Individual Artisans are provided with soft loan upto Rs. 10,000/- and Handicrafts Co-operative Societies upto Rs. 15,000/- with an interest @5 ½%per annum and repayable within ten years for starting new units or for expansion/diversification/mordernisation of existing units.

Handicraft units/artisans can also get financial assistance in the form of soft loan as margin money/seed money@10%to 20% of the project Cost sanctioned by the Banks and Financial Institutions for setting up of new Units or for expansion of existing units.

Eligible candidates willing to get self-employment by settings up of handicraft units may apply for financial assistance in the form of loan form Banks upto a maximum of Rs. 1,00,000/- which includes a subsidy component from Government of India.

Promotional Training for revival of languishing crafts and for diversification and quality up gradation of potential crafts are organised by the respective DICs in each district every year. State Government provides grants to meet up the expenditure for payment of honourium to master craftsman, stipend of Rs.250/- per month per trainee, cost of equipment/raw materials etc.

Arrangements are there in the Baruipur Experimental Research Workshop at Pialy Toun at Baruipur in the district of South 24 Parganas for supply of designs, giving of advance training on handicrafts. Setting up of Design and Service Centre for Handicrafts is also considered by the State Government.

Since the 2^nd Plan period, the State Government has been organising District Level Handicrafts Competition in every district and a State Level for honouring the craftsmen for their best creations. There are provisions for giving awards to 12 craftsmen in every district and 75 craftsmen at the State Level every year. Handicrafts week from 8^th December to 15 December every year is also celebrated by organising different Seminars/exhibition etc.

State Government provides rebate @ 20% on the sales of handicraft products by the authorised Government/ Semi Government organisations for a period not exceeding 90 days in a year. Individual Artisans participating in the Handicrafts Expo are also eligible to get rebate at the same rate on the sales during the Expo period only.

For providing market support to the craftsmen, arrangements are made for organising or for participation in different fairs, exhibitions etc., at the district level. West Bengal State Handicrafts Co-operative Society (Bangashree) are also assisted for organising market camps in the districts. Every year, the State Government organises Handicrafts Expo at Calcutta Maidan. Handicrafts Artisans all over the State are given stalls free of cost and also get reimbursement of a part of train fare and transportation cost for carrying products.

State Government has been providing pension @ Rs. 100/- per month to the Artisans having age 60 years and above. About 1000 artisans are granted such pension under the programme every year.

Grant-in-Aid Institutions engaged in promotion of handicrafts are given financial assistances like grants towards salaries, for purchase of tools and equipment etc.

Assistances in the form of grants for share Capital construction of shed & building, purchase of tools and equipment and loan for working capital are granted by the State Government to the Co-operative Societies engaged in production and promotion of handicrafts.

Financial assistances are granted to the above organisations engaged in promotion and marketing of handicraft products in the form of share capital investment, grants for undertaking different development programmes.

District Industries Centres are associated in all matters relating to promotion and development of handicrafts of the respective districts.