Deptt of Handicrafts, Handloom organizes awareness/ registration camp at Authwatto, B’pora

Bandipora: The Handicrafts and Handloom Department Bandipora Tuesday organized day-long artisan awareness cum registration camp at tourist resort Authwatto, here.
Assistant Director Handicraft/Handloom Bandipora, Rahila Qadri inaugurated the camp while, Designer, School of design Srinagar Fayaz Shabnum, Showket Ahmad Khan, National Awardee Master designer school of design Srinagar Kashmir and other officers and officials and BDC chairmen besides about 200 registered artisans attended the camp.
On the occasion, AD Handicrafts and Handloom Bandipora said that the objective of organizing the camp was to make artisans aware of various welfare programmes and schemes of the department.
She appealed the artisan fraternity to come forward and get themselves registered with the department so that they can avail the benefits available without any difficulty.
On the occasion, Fayaz Shabnum apprised the participants about the schemes being run for their welfare and made them aware about the training programs including corporatisation, availability of design facility from school of Designs Srinagar, benefits of newly launched Credit Card Scheme of Rs two lakhs having 7 percent subsidy available for five years from the date of disbursement.
He also distributed 70 Artisan registration Cards and 2 Registration Certificates of Handloom industrial cooperative limited to registered artisans.
Speaking on the occasion, Auditor INDUSCOS said that the department is making efforts to make sure that the benefits of newly designed schemes for artisans percolate to the targeted beneficiaries. He said that handicraft sector has witnessed a glorious past and it is high time to revive the sector with the help of modern technology and schemes in place.
AHTO said that since the establishment of the Bandipora district in 2007, 7275 trainees have been trained in the district in different crafts including carpet weaving, Sozni, embroidery, wood carving, chain stitche, stapple and ganna craft out of which 2040 trainees have been trained in sumbal block and during the same period 20633 artisans have been registered in the district. About 3500 Handloom weavers have been registered in District Bandipora since inception.
He said during the last financial year the department has disbursed and interest subsidy of Rs 3.87 Crore in favor of artisans and efforts are on to clear the backlogs at earliest.
The department also highlighted various schemes that are in place for the benefit of the artisans to promote the Handloom sector, besides raising the socio-economic status of the artisans.