Livelihood

India’s 7 million handicraft and handloom artisans are the lifeblood of rural craftsmanship, with 7 million creating exquisite handicrafts and 3 million weaving vibrant handloom fabrics. Together, they form the second-largest source of rural employment, alongside agriculture and food processing clusters. They are languishing due to market disconnect and lack of organisation. Honoring the rich heritage and current livelihood potential, FMC is actively engaged in over 100 clusters, driving innovation through contemporary products & designs, market connections, skill development, robust value chains and collective governance to empower artisans, farmers, and allied workers for a sustainable future.

MSMEs are the backbone of India’s economy, contributing to 45% of the manufacturing output and exports. Predominantly located in urban and peri-urban areas, they drive balanced economic growth and provide 110 million jobs, thus playing a key role in combating unemployment. They, however, face significant growth barriers due to low productivity. FMC partners with MSMEs to help them embrace resource-efficient technologies, access new markets, develop contemporary skills, unlock investments and strengthen the supportive ecosystem,