Embroidery craft has been in existence in India for years in some form or the other. Over the years zari-zardozi embroidery has become popular among Indian masses at various levels. Being famous as Royal city of Begums, Bhopal still carries the legacy of zari-zardozi and hand embroidery culture very prominently. Bhopali batua (clutches) and zari/embroidery work in saree, stoles, burqa (veil), etc. are very much famous in all over Asia.

During year 2014-2015, Sathiya Welfare Society started working with these artisans’ practising embroidery and zari-zardoji craft traditionally with the goal of increasing their income and ensuring their livelihood voluntarily as well as with the support of different agencies. So, the Embroidery, Zardozi and Stitching cluster at Karond (Bhopal) was firstly conceptualized by Sathiya Welfare Society way back in 2014-15. Then, in 2016 O/o Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, GOI identified this cluster to develop it as the model cluster and supported with various interventions related to Capacity building, Skill building, Design development and Market development.

The Embroidery, Zardozi & Stitching cluster in Bhopal district has more than 15000 artisans traditionally practising the craft and 850 artisans are directly associated with this cluster.

In the year 2021 Ministry of MSME, GOI sanctioned the SFURTI program for this cluster where Khushali Artisan Handicraft Producer Company Ltd is Implementing Agency, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) is Technical Agency and Council of Handicrafts Development Corporation is the Nodal Agency.

Khushali Artisan Handicraft Producer Company has immense potential and preparedness to become a statement of model cluster and is ready to take forward its work on promoting handicrafts, socio-economic development of artisans and marketing linkages.

This will be a unique cluster where convergence of Ministries could be seen for socio-economic development of artisan community of Bhopal