KCCI expresses concern over move to privatise Government Arts Emporium

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 1: Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) today said it has been constantly assessing the ways to revive Kashmir handicrafts to its past glory to contribute to the economic development of the people of the State and expressed concern over reported move of Government to privatise Government Arts Emporium.
In a statement issued here, the KCCI president Mushtaq Ahmad Wani expressed grave concern that some vested interests are reportedly motivating the Government to handover the Kashmir Government Arts Emporium (J&K, S&E Corporation) to some private person.
“The proposal was discussed earlier in a meeting of the Board of Directors of JKHC and KCCI has opposed the proposal being anti-artisan and against the sustenance and growth of handicraft activity in the State,” he said.
The KCCI maintains that the view that the Kashmir Government Arts Emporium can be revived on sound grounds and has already written to the government to place a revolving fund of Rs 5-10 crore at the disposal of the Corporation, he said.
“The Chamber has also sought the consent and cooperation of the manufacturers/ artisans bodies to supply goods to the Arts Emporium on credit basis through the purchase committee to be appointed by the Government for the purpose to provide space for improvement of the liquidity position of Corporation and be in a position to run smoothly providing a dependable outlet for our handicraft products for which the Emporium has essentially been established decades back,” said Wani.