Chief Secy reviews measures to boost handicrafts sector in J&K

Srinagar, Oct 10: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo Saturday chaired a high-level meeting to review the measures being taken by the Industries & Commerce Department for promotion and development of the Handicrafts and Handloom sectors in J&K.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce; Director, Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir/Jammu; Director, Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT); and other senior officers of the department.
At the outset, the Chief Secretary took stock of the initiatives undertaken to support local artisans and weavers, strengthen testing facilities, and promote genuine hand-made products across the UT.
He underscored the importance of enhancing the testing capacity of existing laboratories and directed for establishment of a robust mechanism for traceability and QR-code based tracking of all Geographical Indication (GI) tagged items. He asked the department to ensure implementation of this digital traceability system by the end of the year without fail.
The Chief Secretary also stressed upon timely grounding of key projects including Ekta Malls in Srinagar and Jammu, besides taking forward other branding and promotion initiatives aimed at giving global recognition to J&K’s traditional crafts.
While reviewing the progress on creation of Wool and Silk Villages, Common Facility Centre for Yarn Dyeing, establishment of the Indian Institute of Textiles at Basohli, Sericulture Park, and Craft-based Resource Centre, the Chief Secretary directed the concerned officers to expedite completion of these projects.
He also advised the department to explore possibilities of NSQF accreditation for its training centres, courses, and trainers to enhance employability and credibility of skilled trainees.
Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, presented a detailed overview of the sector, highlighting that J&K presently has 18 registered GI products in the handicrafts segment, while 10 more are in the pipeline. He informed that the capacity of GI product testing has been significantly upgraded from 50 to 100 tests per day and will soon be enhanced to 250 tests daily upon induction of two additional digital microscopes.
Director, Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir, Masarat-ul-Islam, in his presentation, informed that the department has substantially enhanced its operational capacity and reduced the GI certification waiting period to just two days, providing major relief to artisans. He further informed that around 6,000 GI users are currently registered across the UT.
He revealed that the department is contemplating to make Craft Development Institute (CDI), Srinagar, a ‘Pre-Export Testing Facility Centre’ to facilitate direct export of certified products. To further augment testing infrastructure, the department is also working on signing an MoU with SKUAST-Kashmir for product testing and bulk production of woollen carpets.
The meeting was apprised that the QR code traceability project, being developed in collaboration with NIELIT, is set to be rolled out soon. Moreover, with the active involvement of NIFT Srinagar, 36 prototype designs in five different crafts have been developed, and nearly 1,000 artists trained under ten design and skill enhancement programmes.
Under the Karkhandar Scheme, it was informed that nationally acclaimed master craftsmen are mentoring new artisans, with each trainee receiving a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 along with continuous handholding support. So far, 12 Karkhanas have been established and over 120 artisans trained under the initiative.
Regarding the work of IICT Srinagar, the meeting was told that the institute has developed 2,600 carpet designs, 600 Kani designs, and digitized 650 traditional Taleem patterns, generating a revenue of Rs 56 lakh so far.
On the establishment of Ekta Malls in Srinagar and Jammu, it was informed that locations and design layouts have been finalized. These malls will serve as one-stop destinations offering artisans and shoppers a unified platform for showcasing, marketing, and purchasing of authentic J&K crafts.
The meeting was also informed that as part of a major branding and outreach initiative titled “Soulful Kashmir”, the department is launching a series of ‘Know Your Artisan’ programmes beginning today at the Jhelum Riverfront. Eight such interactions have been planned, where the public will get a chance to engage directly with renowned artisans.
Under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Craft Safaris have also been organized to artisan clusters in Srinagar, covering Papier Mâché, Pashmina weaving, Sozni embroidery, Carpet weaving, Copperware, Khatamband, and Walnut wood carving.
Additionally, it was informed that brand promotion campaigns for J&K’s crafts are being rolled out at airport terminals, city centres, FM channels, and Doordarshan in collaboration with the Department of Information and Public Relations to enhance global visibility and market outreach.