The My E-Haat Conclave was held at Noida Haat in Noida by the HCL Foundation, which spearheads HCL Tech’s corporate social responsibility programme in India. The purpose of the event was to honour India’s rich handicraft legacy and investigate strategies for boosting the industry through innovation, technology, and improved market access.

Over 5,500 craftsmen from various Indian craft traditions have benefited from the HCL Foundation’s My E-Haat initiative to date, advancing the “vocal for local” goal of the Indian government. It helps craftspeople become entrepreneurs by operating in more than 40 clusters in more than ten states. Through the My E-Haat portal, craftsmen from more than 110 clusters may sell their goods directly to consumers, doing away with the need for middlemen and increasing their earnings by 20% to 30%.

Now in its third year, the My E-Haat Conclave 2025 brings together academics, government officials, civil society members, and industry stakeholders for an afternoon of discussions, product displays, and cultural performances.

Dr Sunil Shukla, Director General of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, spoke on “Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Craft Revival – Building Sustainable Livelihoods through Innovation & Market Linkages”, while TRIFED Managing Director Shri M. Raja Murugan gave the keynote address on “Culture, Commerce & Community: Vision for Artisan Empowerment & Social Impact”.

By allowing them to manufacture and market a variety of goods, the HCLFoundation works with the Tamil Nadu Department of Prisons and Correctional Services to give prisoners fulfilling work possibilities. The HCL Foundation wants to improve the Indian handicraft industry’s value chain with the My E-Haat initiative. By assisting them from product conception to market linkage and improving their craftsmanship, product presentation, and digital literacy, My E-Haat enables artisans to prosper in today’s cutthroat global marketplaces,” stated Dr Nidhi Pundhir, SVP, Global CSR, HCL Tech and Director, HCL Foundation.

This year’s conclave had “Woven Stories: The Looms of Legacy” as its topic, and two panel talks centred on it.

“Interwoven Dialogues on Culture, Craft & Commerce: Turning Heritage into Economic Power” was the subject of the first, while “Unlocking Entrepreneurship & Market Access for Artisans through Technology” was the subject of the second.

Over 7 million people in India depend on the handicraft industry for their living, and women make up more than 56% of the craftspeople. According to Statista, India exported handicrafts valued at Rs 15,000 crore in FY25.