Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, announced plans to develop handicraft tourism on the lines of eco-tourism and temple tourism, signalling a structured policy push to elevate the state's artisan economy. The announcement came during the inauguration of the Andhra Pradesh Handicraft Festival 2026 in Vijayawada, organised by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation (Lepakshi).

Key Announcements

Kalyan directed officials to produce special documentaries highlighting the struggles and skills of artisans, with the aim of bringing their stories to a global audience. He also assured that common facility centres will be established on a cluster-wise basis under the VB-G Ram G initiative, providing artisans with shared infrastructure and resources.

In a nod to artisan welfare, Kalyan called for the organisation of continuous medical camps at the cluster level to safeguard the health of handicraft workers — a community often exposed to occupational hazards from their craft materials and tools.

On-the-Ground Engagement

The Deputy Chief Minister personally visited every stall at the festival, purchasing handicraft products and offering direct encouragement to artisans. He stopped at the stall of leather puppet artisans from Kakinada, where he examined depictions of the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavata traditions. The Ravana-slaying episode performed by the leather puppet artists drew widespread appreciation from those present.

Kalyan assured the artisans that special leather puppetry demonstrations will be arranged during the upcoming Godavari Pushkaralu, providing a high-visibility platform for the ancient art form. The artisans noted that their families, long reliant on leather puppetry as a livelihood, are now delivering international-level performances.

At the Uppada sarees stall, Kalyan purchased three Uppada Jamdani sarees for his wife Anna Konidela and selected garments for himself. He also showed keen interest in banana fibre products — including handbags, files, and other eco-friendly items — and purchased a handbag after inquiring about production methods.

Broader Policy Context

The festival showcases artistic works by renowned handicraft artisans drawn from various regions across Andhra Pradesh. Kalyan's visit underscores the coalition government's stated intent to treat handicrafts not merely as a cultural asset but as a viable economic sector capable of generating livelihoods and attracting tourism. This comes amid a broader state push to diversify tourism beyond pilgrimage circuits, with handicraft tourism now being positioned alongside eco-tourism and temple tourism as a formal vertical.

What Comes Next

Officials have been tasked with implementing cluster-wise common facility centres and rolling out the documentary series on artisans. The Godavari Pushkaralu leather puppetry showcase will serve as an early test of the government's commitment to giving traditional art forms a mainstream stage. Artisan communities across the state will be watching whether the assurances translate into measurable policy action.