There was a time when a career in handicrafts was possible only through association with the trade. But now, there is a professional course available that helps you get valuable insights if you are an outsider to the sector, or helps you take your traditional craft to new heights. “Handicrafts is the second largest employment provider in J&K after agriculture, employing around three lac people and has the scope to employ more,” says Yasir A. Mir, a teacher at the Craft Development Institute, Srinagar. Craft development Institute (CDI) Srinagar offers professional educational programmes for young people looking for careers and entrepreneurial opportunities in the handicrafts sector. CDI offers Master’s degree in Craft Management and Entrepreneurship, a course that is aimed at skill development, designing and marketing of handicrafts. “Our main aim is to develop professional and skilled human resource,” says Yasir. “We teach them to become entrepreneurs and (who can) start their own ventures.” Established in 2004 CDI used to offer different courses from the beginning and since 2012, it offers a full time Master’s course in affiliation with University of Kashmir. The course comes under the faculty of Commerce and Management. Graduates from any field, with 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) can apply for the course. The candidates need to sit in MAT and DAT tests conducted by the University of Kashmir. “CDI is mentoring new generation artisans through skillbased training and workshops. CDI also helps regional craftspeople to adopt the current requirements of quality and production while assisting them in contemporary designs and market trends,” said Yasir. Yasir says that many of the pass outs of CDI have been able to start their own ventures and are doing well. Jehangir Bhat is one such example. Bhat deals with Crewel and chain stitch handicrafts at Artisan Avenue, a venture he started in 2013. “Whatever I have been able to achieve is because of CDI and the training I received from there. We were taught everything right from starting a handicraft business to design and then marketing,” says Bhat who graduated from CDI in 2011, and then worked for two years outside Kashmir to gain experience before starting his own business. Bhat said the curriculum at CDI had been properly drafted and was fully entrepreneurship oriented. CDI draws inspiration from the rich heritage of arts and crafts in Jammu & Kashmir and brings together various stakeholders, individuals and agencies working in the sector to implement a sustainable development process. “CDI adopts a holistic approach to handicrafts development by maximising the potential of skillbased activities, in as many ways as possible,” adds Yasir. The Master’s degree is designed to train a student to start new handicraft business ventures. The thrust is on using contemporary designs and technology while maintaining the traditional feel of the handicrafts. Those who don’t want to start right away can join different organisations to gain firsthand experience. By providing a forum for creative exchange and knowledge creation across design, management and technology, CDI is trying to ensure new avenues for innovation and entrepreneurship in handicrafts.