Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Jul 31: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Wednesday said Srinagar has witnessed a major transformation in the last five years with the resurgence of night life and the restoration of peace.
While speaking during the function regarding celebration on recognition of Srinagar as World Craft City, at SKICC Srinagar, Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir’s atmosphere and mood has changed post- 2019.
“Srinagar has undergone a major transformation. Apart from flourishing art and crafts, night life has resurged in the city. Polo view, Dal Lake banks, Lalchowk and Jehlum river front are now the busiest places in the city,” he said.
Sinha said the city has bagged the prestigious title of World Craft City, three years after UNESCO designated Srinagar as a creative city.
“This will empower our artisans and ensure holistic and sustainable development of Srinagar. The World Craft Council honoured 5000 years of rich Indian civilisation, which kept alive creative tradition with gifted artisans and their craftsmanship,” he said.
Sinha said artisans are the most valued people in Indian culture adding the government was taking various measures to uplift them.
“The government is taking care of artisans’ sustainable livelihood. The artisans make innovative products and designs so that they follow global trends. I want to assure them that the government will support them,” he said.
Sinha said as many as 60 crafts were registered currently with the handicrafts department with 380000 registered artisans.
“Of 380000 artisans, 76000 artisans are associated with Pashmina. Till 2020, we had only 300 cooperative societies registered and it has now surged to 5682. Jammu and Kashmir’s
Export Preparedness Index has gone up from 55th rank to 17 position now,” he said.
Sinha said that Jammu and Kashmir has become an investor’s destination. “We have a better ranking in Ease of Doing Business. A better ecosystem has been developed for investors and equal facilities are being provided for the growth of the handicrafts sector. One District One Product proved to be a game changer, he said.
The lieutenant governor said Srinagar achieved a major milestone of “World Craft City”.
“Srinagar and Jammu is promoting a variety of tangible art forms and achieving new milestones in innovation and excellence in quality. I want to see both these cities as the best art cities of India and destinations of priceless art,” he said.
