Handicrafts and handlooms are a major mainstay of our States economy. All the three regions of the State are gifted with this advantage. But it is important to bring about changes in the system of marketing in a big way so that benefits accrue to the producers and workmen. In Kashmir, shawl manufacture, papier machie, wood carving and carvel etc have become famous all over the world. Ladakh and Jammu regions are also significant in their respective handicrafts. Handlooms manufacture traditional tapestry with beautiful designs and silhouette. People all over the world feel fascination for these products as these represent the tremendous deftness of the workmen.
In view of the economic aspect of our handicrafts and handlooms, the Chief Minister has taken a bold and very innovative decision of giving impetus to the State handicrafts. While chairing 6th Industrial Advisory Council meeting on February 6, 2017, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had asked the Industries and Commerce Department to take steps for establishment of J&K Trade Promotion Organization on the pattern of Indian Trade Promotion Organization to boost trade and commerce in the State and provide a business friendly environment to the industrialists in Jammu and Kashmir. Consequently, the seniors at the Department of Industries and Commerce have worked over months with their counterparts at the Union Ministry of Textile and Commerce. After due consultations with the Indian Trade Promotion Organization, approval has been granted for the dovetailing of the State Trade Promotion Organization with ITPO. A study made at the concerned levels it is expected that the growth of returns from handicrafts and handlooms will jump from present 1500 crore rupees to 3000 crore rupees in next three years when the collaboration matures. Consultations have also been held with Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) which is a major organization dealing with this area. Several months long efforts finally yielded positive results with ITPO formally conveying its concurrence for having 44% equity in the J&K Trade Promotion Organization. Similarly, EPCH has agreed for 5% equity in the Organization. State Government will have 51% equity in the company, which will pay special attention towards giving necessary impetus to handloom and handicrafts sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
A bigger benefit that is expected to accrue to the State is that by dovetailing with the ITPO the State can become part of big industrial and handicrafts expos which the ITPO organizes on national and international levels. It means that State handicraft products will find big international market which will boost the trade. It will also increase the income for the producers and the skilled workmen. It has to be remembered that thousands of families are involved in handicrafts and handlooms trade and the bold decision which the Chief Minister has taken will be of great relief and happiness to them. State Industries have so far taken only three chances of joining the expos of ITPO but after the dovetailing, it will be possible for our producers to market their products through the Expos as is the practice in modern times. Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is a non-profit organization with an object to promote, support, protect, maintain and increase the export of handicrafts. Bureaucrats have worked on the proposal and it seems that formalizing it would not be a cumbersome task. Now, the Industries and Commerce Department will place a proposal before the State Cabinet for formal approval to the establishment of J&K Trade Promotion Organization and clearance of Memorandum of Association and Article of Association, which have already been vetted by the Law and other concerned departments of State Government”.
The credit of initiating the new scheme goes to the credit of the Chief Minister who took the initiative and persuaded the bureaucracy to do the follow up exercise. It also shows that the Chief Minister is keen to improve the lot of the handicraft workers and find wider market for their goods not only on national but also on international level.
Follow our WhatsApp channel