Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 25: Kashmir Handicraft Workers and Artisans Union (KHWU) today held a day long convention at Srinagar in which hundreds of workers and artisans participated and demanded revival and modernization of the age-old traditional handicrafts of Kashmir
Addressing the convention, State President Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami exhorted the government and demanded the issue of registration cards to all the workers actually engaged in trade and remove the condition of age bar for the purpose. He said: “if the government, for any reason cannot issue cards to handicraft workers who have crossed 60 years age; it should then sanction substantial pension and other benefits to the aged and sick artisans. The registered artisans should receive welfare benefits at par with the card holder labourers.”
Tarigami also demanded the early release of the subsidy amount in favour of the handicraft workers. The money, he said, has not been released by the government so far.
The president of the union Nisar Ahmad highlighted the importance of handicrafts and cottage industry in the state’s economy and its potential to generate employment without harming the fragile environment and ecology of the state especially the valley of Kashmir.
General Secretary Aijaz Ahmad stressed on the present government to take immediate and effective measures for improving the lot of artisans like Shawl workers, copper weavers, wood work artisans, embroidery and crewel workers.
The convention resolved to launch a sustained and forceful struggle for the achievement of their genuine rights and bringing back the golden days of the Handicraft sector as it flourished during the reign of King Zainul Abideen, who was dearly called ‘Budshah’.
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