West Bengal' s unparalleled legacy in arts and crafts as seen in architectural terracotta marvels, fine muslin and silk-stems from its village based cottage industries and remains the backbone of its rural economy. Recent interventions have lifted artisans? average monthly earnings from ?3,000 to ?8,000 and grown the UNESCO partnered Rural Craft Hub from 3,000 to 25,000 beneficiaries across ten traditional crafts. The 2023 Hasta Shilpa Mela, with 59 pavilions and around 7,000 artisans, generated over ?70 crore in sales and attracted up to 65,000 weekend visitors. National programmes like the Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana have boosted infrastructure, training and credit support, while handicrafts now account for 8.21 percent of India's textile and apparel exports. Despite challenges in modernizing production and reducing middlemen margins, expanding e commerce and direct to consumer bazaars point toward a more sustainable, inclusive future for Bengal's living heritage.