SRINAGAR, Sep 27: The Centre has agreed to create a raw material bank for silk, wool and pashmina to ensure uninterrupted supply to manufacturers and artisans of the State.
The assurance was given by Union Minister for Textiles Kavuru Sambasiva Rao during a meeting with a delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) at SKICC here.
“The KCCI represented to the minister that raw material bank for silk, wool and pashmina be created to provide the required raw material to the manufacturers and artisans, so as to ensure uninterrupted production of the products which are in demand in the export market,” Secretary General, KCCI, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said in a statement.
“The minister has been kind enough to accept the demand and issue spot instructions for grant of 10 per cent subsidy on pashmina raw material,” he said.
Wani said the minister also made an “outright commitment” that an integrated textile park will be allocated afresh to Kashmir, the implementation of which shall have to be ensured within six months of the sanction.
On a demand of setting up of district-wise powerloom, handloom and handicraft clusters, the minister sought the necessary proposal for setting up such clusters, he said.
Rao also assured the delegation that the issue of mega carpet project will be reviewed and action in getting it expedited will be taken immediately as proposed by the KCCI in accordance with the provisions of the related scheme of the Centre.
The delegation asked the minister to allot space in all the international trade fairs and exhibitions with due warehousing facilities and stalls for display of products, so as to help maximum marketing of the Kashmir origin handicraft products.
“The minister assured that the demand will be considered favourably and required allotments in fairs and exhibitions shall be granted,” Wani said.
Earlier, the minister visited Congress headquarters here and addressed the party workers.
Rao said he was very much interested in promotion of handicrafts from the State which have been famous throughout the world for centuries, a party spokesman said.
He said the minister referred to wood carving, Khatamband, Pashmina works, Shawal weaving and other crafts and said he would consider any proposal in this connection, so that certain projects can be undertaken as early as possible. (AGENCIES)
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