Support to Indigent Handicraft Artisans: Statistics by Year
· 1 min read · 3 official sources
The National Handicrafts Development Programme gave financial support to 538 award-winning artisans in indigent circumstances in 2023-24, up from 302 in 2019-20, according to a Lok Sabha reply of March 2025. NHDP released Rs 10,919.25 lakh in 2023-24. Five years of targets, achievements and NHDP funding are below.
National Handicrafts Development Programme: Support to Artisans in Indigent Circumstances: key numbers
Infographic
Artisans in indigent circumstances given financial support (2019-20 to 2023-24)
Yearly target and achievement for financial support to artisans in indigent circumstances under NHDP.
| Year | Target (artisans) | Artisans supported |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 300 | 302 |
| 2020-21 | 300 | 302 |
| 2021-22 | 365 | 365 |
| 2022-23 | 410 | 339 |
| 2023-24 | 465 | 538 |
Source: pib.gov.in, as on 31 March 2024
NHDP funds sanctioned and released (2019-20 to 2023-24)
All-India funds sanctioned and released under the whole National Handicraft Development Programme each year, in Rs lakh. Releases are usually 50 to 75 per cent of the sanctioned amount.
| Year | Funds sanctioned (Rs lakh) | Funds released (Rs lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 11,852.02 | 6,953.29 |
| 2020-21 | 13,866.02 | 8,600.75 |
| 2021-22 | 20,757.22 | 14,064.34 |
| 2022-23 | 22,293.52 | 13,129.25 |
| 2023-24 | 17,523.09 | 10,919.25 |
Source: pib.gov.in, as on 31 March 2024
How an indigent master craftsperson gets support
What the numbers show
Under the National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP), the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) gives monthly financial assistance to award-winning master craftspersons aged 60 or more who are living in indigent circumstances. A Lok Sabha reply of March 2025 shows that 538 artisans were supported in 2023-24, the highest in the five years reported.
The trend over the years
The number of artisans supported stayed at 302 in 2019-20 and 2020-21, rose to 365 in 2021-22, dipped to 339 in 2022-23 and then rose to 538 in 2023-24. The yearly target also rose, from 300 to 465. In 2023-24 the achievement was well above the target, while in 2022-23 it fell short of the target of 410.
NHDP funding
The fund table covers the entire NHDP, which also pays for marketing events, skill training, toolkits and infrastructure. Releases rose from Rs 6,953.29 lakh in 2019-20 to a peak of Rs 14,064.34 lakh in 2021-22, and were Rs 10,919.25 lakh in 2023-24. The ministry explains that releases are lower than sanctions because most components are paid at 50 to 75 per cent of the sanctioned amount in the year. A PIB backgrounder of December 2025 puts the approved NHDP outlay at Rs 837 crore for 2022-26.
What the figures do not tell you
The reply does not give the amount paid under the indigent artisans component, or a state-wise count of supported artisans. It also does not say how many eligible awardees applied but were not covered.
Where to check the numbers
The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) at handicrafts.nic.in publishes scheme guidelines. Year-wise achievements appear in Ministry of Textiles replies in Parliament, released through PIB.
Frequently asked questions
How many artisans get support under the indigent circumstances component?
538 artisans in indigent circumstances were given financial support in 2023-24, against a target of 465, according to a Lok Sabha reply published on 21 March 2025.
Has the number of supported artisans grown?
Yes. It was 302 in both 2019-20 and 2020-21, 365 in 2021-22, 339 in 2022-23 and 538 in 2023-24.
How much money does NHDP release in a year?
The whole NHDP released Rs 10,919.25 lakh in 2023-24 against Rs 17,523.09 lakh sanctioned. The highest release in the five years shown was Rs 14,064.34 lakh in 2021-22.
Why is the released amount lower than the sanctioned amount?
The ministry says funds are released at 50 to 75 per cent of the sanctioned amount under the scheme's components, so releases in a year are lower than sanctions.
Is there a separate budget figure for indigent artisans?
The official reply gives the number of artisans supported but not a separate amount for this component. The fund figures cover all NHDP components together.
Eligibility, documents and how to apply: National Handicrafts Development Programme: Support to Artisans in Indigent Circumstances full guide
Charts, data files and the infographic are free to download, share and embed with a link back to this page.
Sources
This guide was checked against these official pages:
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2113554)
- static.pib.gov.in (static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/dec/doc2025129724401)
- handicrafts.nic.in (handicrafts.nic.in/)