Modern Looms, Global Design Focus, and Upgraded Testing Labs to Empower Artisans and Strengthen Kashmir’s Craft Legacy
SRINAGAR: Union Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao today reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to promoting and revitalizing the unique art of hand-knotted carpet weaving. She made these remarks while distributing Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms to artisans under the Integrated Wool Development Programme (IWDP) at the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) campus in Srinagar.
The event was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce Vikramjit Singh; Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Padmini Singla; Director, Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir, Mussrat Islam; Executive Director, Central Wool Development Board, G.S. Bhati; Member Secretary, J&K Sericulture Development Board, P. Shiv Kumar; and other senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles and the Department of Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir.
In her address, the Union Secretary encouraged the UT Government to submit additional proposals to the Ministry of Textiles, particularly for upgrading testing and certification facilities. She emphasized the importance of preserving traditional designs while integrating contemporary patterns to enhance the global appeal of Kashmiri handicrafts.
“I have come from Delhi with a team of senior officers to gain firsthand insight into introducing new benchmarks that will strengthen backward and forward linkages in the craft sector,” she stated.
Earlier, Neelam Shami Rao toured various sections of IICT, where the Director briefed her on ongoing training programmes, the design studio, and the NABL-accredited laboratory. She expressed keen interest in expanding IICT’s laboratory facilities, noting that special funding has already been provided under the technology component of the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP).
The Union Secretary also visited the Pashmina Testing & Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC) and assured full support for procuring state-of-the-art machinery to safeguard the authenticity of Kashmiri Pashmina and other handicrafts.
During her visit, she interacted with Padma Shri and National Award-winning artisans, including Ghulam Hassan Khan (Patchwork Jamawar), Ghulam Nabi Dar (Wood Carving), and Farooq Ahmad Mir (Kani Shawl), as well as emerging entrepreneurs like Shahnawaz Carpets and Beenish Crewel Toys.
Union Secretary Rao distributed Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms to artisan clusters from Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Kulgam, and Srinagar districts. She also assured that a proposal submitted by the Department of Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir, for the procurement of 500 additional looms would be given due consideration.
