SRINAGAR: Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, today chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat to deliberate on issues raised by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI).
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary to the CM, Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce, S. Vikramjit Singh, Director Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir, Mussrat Islam, and KCCI President, Javed Tenga, among others.
Raising concerns over the handicrafts and handloom sector, the KCCI delegation highlighted the recent notices issued to handicraft showrooms for selling machine-made products alongside handcrafted items. They also stressed the need to expedite testing and certification of GI-tagged products at PTQCC lab, Bagh-e-Ali Mardan Khan.
The Advisor was briefed that the notices followed formal complaints from tourists who were sold machine-made imitations as genuine Kashmiri handicrafts. In one serious case, a showroom was blacklisted for mislabeling a counterfeit product with a fake GI tag.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to protect artisans and weavers, Wani directed the department to prepare a comprehensive proposal safeguarding both artisans and business stakeholders. He suggested that KCCI formally engage with the Handicrafts & Handloom Department and submit a proposal allowing the sale of machine-made products, provided they are clearly labeled and segregated as a distinct category. This, he said, would ensure transparency and protect buyers from deception.
The Advisor also urged KCCI to sensitize dealers on promoting authentic Kashmiri handicrafts, warning that strict action would be taken against mislabeling, misbranding, or deceptive practices.
Commissioner Secretary Singh informed that PTQCC labs have been upgraded with new digital microscopes and are set to procure advanced equipment, including SEM and HR digital microscopes, to enhance testing capacity of GI-registered products.
The KCCI delegation further raised the issue of sub-standard meat being sold by unscrupulous suppliers, which they said was adversely affecting genuine hotels and restaurateurs. They called for strict action against the culprits and their supply chains.
Responding, Wani assured that the government is actively working to curb unsafe food practices, emphasizing that public confidence can only be restored through transparency, consumer awareness, and strict adherence to hygienic standards, as public health remains a top priority.
