Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 19: About 70,000 artisans of the Srinagar district, associated with handicrafts and handlooms, are being covered under Artisans Credit Card Scheme (ACCS) during the current fiscal. The Scheme envisages to provide loans to the artisans at meagre interest without any mortgage or guarantee.
This was announced by the Minister for Industries and Commerce, S S Slathia while addressing a gathering of artisans at a function organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Handicrafts Department in the premises of Indian Institute of Carpet Technology, (IICT) Bagh-e-Ali Mardan Khan, in down town locality, considered to be a hub of handloom weavers and handicraft artisans. Mr Slathia said that the Government has made a tie-up with Jammu and Kashmir Bank for issuing ACCs to artisans aimed at to uplift their living standard as well as boosting the handicrafts and handloom sectors in a big way.
He said the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah at the 86th State Level Banker’s Committee (SLBC) meeting has given specific instructions for launching this Scheme for artisans.
The Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Shantmanu, President Jammu and Kashmir Bank, B.A Lone, Heads of various departments and PSUs under the administrative control of Industries and Commerce and a large number of artisans were present on the occasion.
Reiterating Government’s resolve to uplift the socio- economic standard of the artisans and to make them economically self reliant, Mr. Slathia announced that 60% of the premium for their health insurance cover will be provided by the Government, He said about 40,000 modern looms will be provided to the artisans free of cost during the next five year plan.
The Managing Director, JKI, Javed Iqbal, MD, SICOP, R.L. Tickoo, MD, Handloom Development Corporation, Showkat Ali, MD, SIDCO, Mohammad Mouzam, MD, JK Cements, R.K. Razdhan and Secretary, KBIV Ravinder Singh were present on the occasion.
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