CS reviews roadmap for promotion and strengthening of Handicrafts & Handloom sector in J&K

JAMMU, APRIL 22: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress and future roadmap for large-scale promotion and strengthening of the Handicrafts and Handloom sector in Jammu & Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce; Director, Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir/Jammu; MD, JKHHMC and other concerned officers.

Taking a comprehensive review of departmental initiatives, the Chief Secretary emphasized the immediate operationalization of non-functional training centres across districts to ensure uninterrupted skill development and capacity building of artisans and craftsmen. He directed that these centres be aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) to ensure wider recognition of training certifications.

Stressing formalization and financial inclusion, he instructed the department to enhance artisan registrations on the Udyam portal and facilitate their linkage with the RBI’s Unified Lending Interface (ULI) to improve access to affordable credit. He further advised exploring the introduction of a dedicated term loan product for the sector, on the analogy of the agriculture sector, to enable capital infusion and business expansion.

The Chief Secretary also called for expansion of training and capacity-building programmes in collaboration with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), stating that short-term courses and diploma programmes would help integrate modern technology with traditional crafts.

Reviewing the progress on GI tagging, he directed optimal utilization of the QR-based management system for tracking and tracing GI products and emphasized its full operationalization through integration with the Government of India’s MeghRaj cloud platform. He also stressed expediting the implementation of the Tex-RAMPS scheme, including early finalization of the requisite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, presented a detailed overview of departmental functioning and initiatives aimed at revitalizing the sector. He informed that proposals for multiple projects have been submitted to the Government of India for approval to strengthen handicrafts across districts. He also highlighted capacity-building programmes being conducted in collaboration with NIFT, Budgam, including courses ranging from 15 days to one year.

He further informed that approximately 17,000 artisans and weavers were registered during the previous year, taking the total to over 4.52 lakh across the Union Territory. Additionally, around 12,600 individuals have been trained through departmental training centres, he added.

Director Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir, Mussarat Islam, highlighted key initiatives including establishment of a Craft Village at Sonpah (Budgam), Common Facility Centres (CFCs) for wool processing, yarn dyeing and dehairing in Srinagar, and upgradation of IICT Srinagar and PTQCC laboratories. He also outlined efforts to enhance product quality and curb counterfeit products.

Director Handicrafts & Handloom, Jammu, Mohammad Nazir Sheikh, apprised the meeting of projects under consideration by the Ministry of Textiles, including raw material depots for Pashmina and wheat straw clusters, bamboo cluster at Samba, calico printing cluster at Jammu, and development of an Urban Haat at Samba. He further informed that several CFCs in Kathua and Samba districts have already been completed.

The meeting also reviewed financial inclusion initiatives, including the Credit Card Scheme for Artisans and Weavers, under which more than 2,400 cases have been sanctioned, providing credit facilities up to ₹2 lakh with interest subvention. Under the Karkhandar Scheme, 46 karkhanas have been established with government assistance amounting to ₹185.79 lakh.

Regarding GI certification, it was informed that 970 new authorized GI users were registered during 2025–26, taking the total to nearly 4,700 across various crafts. A total of 80,545 products have been QR-labelled. It was highlighted that Jammu & Kashmir has achieved distinction as the only Union Territory/State in India to secure GI tags across its entire range of traditional crafts.

The meeting also reviewed the functioning of the Craft Development Institute (CDI) and the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), along with promotional initiatives such as “Know Your Artisan,” “Little Karigars,” “Craft Pathshala,” branding campaigns like “Soulful Kashmir,” and the Annual UT Craftsmen Awards.

The meeting concluded with a review of progress on establishment of two PM Ekta Unity Malls in Srinagar and Jammu, each with an estimated cost of ₹100 crore. The meeting was apprised that the Land has been identified in the capital cities as envisaged for these projects and work on both ofthem is going to be started soon.