HCL Foundation e-Launches “My E-Haat”– an Initiative to Strengthen the Value Chain of the Handicraft sector

• On the occasion of 75^th Independence Day, HCL Foundation (HCLF), the CSR arm of HCL Technologies, virtually launched the ‘My E-Haat' online portal to strengthen the Handicraft sector in India. Through this special initiative, HCLF aims to implement a holistic strategy encompassing backward integration as well as forward linkages. This will strengthen the Handicraft industry and promote local products by keeping artisans and primary producers at its core.
• ‘My E-Haat’ portal will enable artisans and primary producers to list and showcase their products to conduct their business, thereby, minimizing the informal intermediaries and often long supply chains.
• The platform will offer e-payment options, Cash on Delivery (COD) and integrated logistic support in addition to the real time product tracking. The platform will also provide options for quality check mechanism, price determination, promotion, marketing, and grievance redressal, handholding on procurement of raw material, product designing & training, financial inclusion, and market connect.
• The initiative will engage artisans and primary producers with skill-building opportunities, create market linkages and establish linkages with Government Social Security schemes & Entitlements.
• The portal will also serve as a platform to educate the beneficiaries with adequate market-driven knowledge including technical and non-technical aspects to improve their products, in terms of designing, packaging, nurture entrepreneurial talent and augur market knowledge. 
• ‘My E-Haat’ initiative will also empower the skilled artisans and bring them to the forefront to share their stories and knowledge.
• Currently, ‘My E-Haat’ has 30 + partners from 08 states of India with 600+ products listed and many more partners/artisans will be joining from across the country by end of the year.
• In the coming months, HCL Foundation will establish a ‘My E-Haat’ gallery that will showcase products from across the country and create partnership opportunities with various government departments and esteemed institutions.