Chapter 15: Empowering Indigenous Communities Through Education

The present study investigates the impact of digitalization in artisan communities from the perspectives of emerging economies and was conducted in the Chitrakoot craft cluster of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was an ethnographic cum exploratory study utilizing a case study approach to focus on the One District One Product (ODOP) Scheme launched by the government for the artisanal communities in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh, India. Purposive sampling was used for recruiting the cases for primary data collection. Secondary data were collected from government documents, reports, policy papers, etc. Thematic analysis of the data generated valuable insights which were systematically presented in the result section. Findings revealed the multifaceted impact of digitalization on various aspects of the scheme, including market access, product development, skill development, and socioeconomic enhancement. Furthermore, the study highlighted the opportunities as well as challenges that have aroused for the artisan community in contemporary times. The study will thus have implications for development sector professionals, policymakers, craft researchers, and designers. It will also be useful in designing effective skill development programs for the artisans as per their requirements and lead to effective utilization of institutional resources.