Urban Haats are permanent marketing infrastructure in tourist towns/metropolitan cities to provide direct marketing facilities to handicrafts of artisans/handloom weavers. This will enable artisans to sell their products round the year to a wider target market. Food and craft bazaars provide leisure and recreational facilities for domestic as well as international tourists.

Kanyakumari Urban Haat : Poompuhar has established an Urban Haat at Kanyakumari at an outlay of Rs.2.75 crore. The Urban Haat has 50 shops, food court, dormitory, amphitheatre, children’s park and parking facility. On an average, 50 nos. of artisans can benefit from this Urban Haat every month.

Mamallapuram Urban Haat : Similarly, Poompuhar has established another Urban Haat at Mamallapuram at an outlay of Rs.4.24 crore. The Urban Haat has 36 shops, food court, dormitory, amphi theatre, children’s park and parking facility etc.

The Government of Tamil Nadu sanctioned Rs.1.00 crores from the State Innovation Fund for creating “e-Repository of Artisans and their Skills”. This is a comprehensive and dynamically updated web based repository www.tnartisaan.com is for all artisans in the State of Tamil Nadu, with dedicated web-page in a standardized format for each artisan who has been registered in the site, with special features to promote marginalized groups of artisans. Currently we have data for about 13,000 artisans and the survey is on. The advantage about this website is that now the world can deal directly with our artisans and vice versa, without having to go through middlemen.

The Corporation is currently distribution free tools kits worth Rs.5000/- to artisans in Tamil Nadu state under the IDPH program. Total of 10000 artisans will be covered under this scheme. Any artisans who holds the PECHAN ID card provided by the DC(H) New Delhi will benefit out of the scheme.

Under the IDPH program the Corporation is establishing 13 Common Facility Centres at various crafts cluster in Tamil Nadu at the cost of Rs.780.00 lakhs. So far six CFCs are declared opened by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 8-3-2018 Artisan Day.

Similarly under the Tamil Nadu Government sponsored scheme “Revival of Languishing crafts” four more Common Facility Centres are established for Palm Leaf, Kora Grass mat, Clay and Teracotta crafts at a cost of Rs.188.00 Lakhs.

The Corporation provides 5 months IDTDP training and  2 month DTDW training  for acquiring various skills in the production of craft items in periodical intervals. Those who want to acquire the skill in the production of these craft items can join the training programmes organized by the Corporation periodically and make themselves proficient in these craft skills which will enable them to take up production of handicrafts as an occupation.  During the training period, the trainees are paid stipend  for Rs.7,500 /- per month by the Corporation.

The Corporation has also established a Design Research and Development Centre (DRDC) using 3D Designing and Printing technology for quick and mass production of Handicrafts products.

Every year ten best artisans in the field who have contributed to the development of the crafts of Tamil Nadu are selected and given the Poompuhar State Award, which consists of a cash prize of  Rs.50,000/, a four gram gold medal, tamirapathiram  and a certificate. These state awardees are also eligible to get a monthly pension of Rs.3,500/- after completion of 60 years of age under the Government of India if they are economically backward.

The Poompuhar District Craft Award had been newly introduced in the year 2011-2012. This award consists of a cash prize of Rs.10,000/-, a silver medal and a certificate. A total of 85 craftsmen in 16 crafts are awarded these prizes every year. Out of which 17 women artisans selected to encourage them and to ensure self sustainability.  

In order to ensure that the traditional handicrafts of Tamil Nadu survive and are passed on to the next generation, it is necessary to enthuse the youngsters in the field. In order to achieve this, a craft competition was introduced from the year 2013‑2014 onwards for artisans below 30 years of age. 150 artisans were chosen, duly honoured and given Rs.2000/- cash, silver medals and certificates. These competitions will be held in the important craft pockets. 

In order to encourage the exporters of handicraft items, an award called “Handicrafts Exports Award” has been introduced from the year 2014-2015.  The above award is to be given to two persons at a cost of Rs.2.50 lakhs every year. This award consist of a cash prize of Rs.40,000/-, 4 gm gold medal, one thamirapattiram and a certificate.

Handicraft items are usually made by a team of artisans. It is often difficult to single out an individual artisan for an award. A “Team Production Award” is therefore being introduced to honour teams of artisans who come together to produce an item. This award will be given to 3 groups at a cost of Rs.3.75 lakhs every year.

This awards consist of a cash prize of Rs.40,000/-, 4 gm gold medal, one thamirapattiram and a certificate.

Many artefacts produced by artisans are often of decorative or religious value. In order to encourage artisans to produce utility based handicrafts, an Award called “Utility Based Handicrafts Award” has been introduced. This award will be given to 3 artisans at a cost of Rs.3.75 lakhs every year.    This awards consist of a cash prize of Rs.40, 000/-, 4 gm gold medal, one thamirapattiram and a certificate.