Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said, country's handicraft exports have increased by more than 8 per cent during the last fiscal touching nearly 31 thousand crore rupees. Replying to questions in Lok Sabha today, the Minister said, according to the provisional data available, the exports of handicrafts have shown an increase of 8.46 per cent in rupees term in 2015-16 as compared to previous year. She said handicraft sector is an unorganised sector with unique identity for each craft. The government is contemplating to launch a voluntary scheme for rendering quality and authenticity of handicrafts products with a view to differentiate genuine and socially – environmentally compliant handicrafts products.Ms Irani said a proposal for creation of e-marketing platform under marketing support and service scheme has also been received from export promotion council for handicrafts. She said this platform will facilitate buyers and sellers to procure and sell as well as to promote products categories both in domestic as well as international markets online.