It is an interesting fact that most of the artisans in India are from the muslim community. During the mughal period there artisans were patronised by the emperors and they have carried their profession to this day. However competing in the new global enviornment with new market forces has put a lot of pressure on these artisans. The effect is so much that it threatens their traditional means of livelihood.
There are many instances where a weaver or a potter had to leave the loom and the wheel respectivley to become a vegetable vendor or rickshaw-puller. Government is giving incentives to these artisans but its not enough to compete with the products of the multinational companies. Anyone who has brought a handicraft product for the first time is often left wondering why he or she spent all their money on the insipid stuff from the supermarket. The answer is simple-There just insn't enough publicity to promote the artisans and their products. I believe today you can sell anything -even a third rate product-if you know how to package and market it well. Alas the artisan who is usually poor and illiterate has no clue how to promote himself and his products.