Srinagar : Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting to assess the initiatives of the Industries & Commerce Department aimed at promoting the Handicrafts and Handloom sectors in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The meeting was among others attended by senior officials from the department and the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology.
Addressing the meeting the Chief Secretary emphasized the need to enhance testing facilities for local artisans and weavers, advocating for a digital traceability system for Geographical Indication (GI) products, which is to be implemented by year-end. The meeting reviewed the progress of various projects, including the establishment of Wool and Silk Villages and the Indian Institute of Textiles at Basohli. The Chief Secretary urged the acceleration of these projects and suggested exploring National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) accreditation for training centers to improve employability. The Commissioner Secretary reported that J&K currently has 18 registered GI products, with testing capacity upgraded to 100 tests per day, soon to reach 250. The Director of Handicrafts & Handloom highlighted a significant reduction in the GI certification waiting period to two days, benefiting around 6,000 registered GI users. Plans to transform the Craft Development Institute into a Pre-Export Testing Facility were discussed, along with a potential MoU with SKUAST-Kashmir for enhanced testing infrastructure. The QR code traceability project, in collaboration with NIELIT, is set to launch soon, and 36 prototype designs have been developed with the help of NIFT Srinagar. Under the Karkhandar Scheme, master craftsmen are mentoring new artisans, providing stipends and support. The IICT Srinagar has created numerous carpet and Kani designs, generating significant revenue. The Ekta Malls in Srinagar and Jammu are in the final stages of planning, intended to serve as central hubs for artisans and consumers. Additionally, the department is initiating a branding campaign titled “Soulful Kashmir,” which includes public interactions with artisans. Craft Safaris have been organized to showcase various artisan clusters, and promotional campaigns for J&K crafts are being launched across multiple media platforms to enhance visibility and market reach.
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