Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 17: To provide a vibrant platform to the weavers and cooperatives of Jammu Division to exhibit and sell their handmade products, the Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom, Jammu, under the guidance of Prashant Goyal, Principal Secretary to the Government, Industries & Commerce Department, J&K, organised a 15 day State Handloom Expo 2023 sponsored by the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
Valedictory function on the successful conclusion of the State Handloom Expo 2023 was held at Jammu Haat.
Anoo Malhotra, Director General Industries & Commerce, Jammu was the chief guest at the event.
Dr. Vikas Gupta, Director Handicrafts & Handloom, Jammu; Atul Sharma Managing Director J&K Handicrafts & Handloom Corporation and Joint Director MSME; Tilak Raj, Joint Director Handicrafts, Jammu; Pardeep Singh, Joint Director Handloom, Jammu, Development Officers, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors and Deputy Registrar Induscos of the Directorate, were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vikas Gupta, Director Handicrafts & Handloom, Jammu apprised the guests about the functioning of the directorate. He affirmed the resolve of the directorate to work in the interests of the weaver community. He also apprised that the Department is making great efforts for the welfare of artisan and the weaver community. The department not only provides skill training to unemployed youth of the region in various crafts through its training centres but also provides for handholding of these trained weavers and artisans by getting themselves registered with the department for availing various benefits being provided by the Government through different schemes. Besides organizing District and State Handloom Expos, the directorate also provides artisans and weavers of Jammu division with the opportunity for participation in various UT/National and even international level exhibitions where they can display and sell their products.
Anoo Malhotra appreciated the efforts made by the directorate in organizing the State Handloom Expo and providing a platform to the weaver community for selling their handmade products. She appealed to people to support the local weavers and artisans by purchasing local handmade products.
More than 60 cooperatives/weavers from all over the UT participated in the event and a sale of Rs. 1.25 Crore (approx.) has been realized during the said event. These kinds of events not only provide a platform for sale of handmade products to the weaver community but also provide them with the opportunity to showcase their beautifully handmade products and to interact with the buyers directly to understand contemporary demand for making changes in their products accordingly.
The Directorate is also working hard to get products of Jammu division like Basohli Pashmina Shawls, Chikri wood products and Basohli Paintings, G.I registered. Registration and tagging of these products would help the artisans and weavers of Jammu region to earn good price for their produce and at the same time provide the customers with the satisfaction of the authenticity of the product. This will also consolidate the position of artisans and weavers of Jammu region at export front and would ultimately improve the socio-economic status of the artisan and weaver community.
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