The Government has been implementing six generic schemes for the promotion and development of Handicraft sector and handicraft workers including those belonging to Schedule Cast and Schedule Tribe community in the country. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday , Minister of State for Textiles, Panabaaka Lakshmi said the schemes are composite in nature and not gender, caste or area specific. Mrs. Lakshmi said these scheme include Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastshilp VikasYojana, Design and Technology Upgradation Scheme, Research and Development Scheme, Human Resource Development Scheme and Handicraft Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme.