Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 10: Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo has called for bridging all infrastructural and managerial gaps to boost traditional industries like handloom, handicrafts and khadi products, which, he said have tremendous potential provided its backward and forward linkages are monitored properly.
Speaking at the inaugural functions of the-State Level Exhibition-cum Sale of Khadi products and 14 days Special Handloom Expo-2014 here today, Mr. Kichloo said that handoom and Khadi products of the State have a great market in the country and abroad, adding that need of the hour was to provide vast marketing channels to the artisans and viewers to enable them showcase and sell their products without exploitation of the middle men.
Mr. Kichloo said that the Government is committed to protect interest of artisan’s community, adding that every possible marketing facilities are being explored to ensure that products made by artisans find good market at National and International levels. He said the State Government, the Union Ministry of Micro Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Union Ministry of Textiles have taken several major initiatives for revival of traditional industrial clusters in the State that would go a long way in providing much needed monetary as well as marketing support to the artisans.
The Minister said that the State Government is also actively involved in Geographical Indication (GI) Registration of its various world famous handicrafts and handloom products so that these get regional patents and provide quality assurance to genuine products in the market that is flooded with so many fake lookalikes.
Mr. Kichloo also urged for providing much needed exposure to the artisans by involving them in expos and exhibitions at state, national and international levels. He said special incentives should be provided to the artisans and weavers to enable them participate in such expos and exhibitions.
The Director Handloom Development while giving a brief resume of the activities said that the department has started implementation of the centrally sponsored revival, reforms and re-structuring package of Handloom sector which provides for waiving off the entire principle amount of a weaver of organization whose business has rendered into NPA, adding that about 77 Khadi units, two Apex bodies and 100 individual weavers of the State are getting benefitted under this scheme. He said about 15000 weavers credit cards on the analogy of Artisans credit cards are being issued in favour of handloom weavers to provide them hassle free lending facilities.
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