Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 5: Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajad Ahmed Kichloo, while interacting with a delegation of artisans from Srinagar today said that the handicrafts sector is being given a big boost.
As many as 10 handicrafts clusters in Srinagar city have been set-up to promote various types of Handicrafts. A handicrafts cluster for paper machie has been set-up at Zadibal, khatamband, walnut wood carving and cooper Ware cluster at Safakadal and pashmina weaving cluster at Noor Bagh.
He said handicrafts cluster of leather products is being set-up at Chatabal, Kani Shawl cluster at Mandibal Narwara, Sozni at Batapora Shohama and Willow Wicker at Kachari Pirpora.
Mr.Kichloo said special funds to the tune of Rs. 2.50 crore have been earmarked for revival of Kani shawl, Silk handloom sarees and re-creation of antique pashmina shawls. He said silk factory Rajbagh is also being revived at a cost of Rs. 2.50 crore.
Mr.Kichloo said that artisans’ credit cards have been provided to the artisans for easy access to Micro Credit and loan slab under Micro Finances of the artisans has been raised from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh without any mortgage and the interest subsidy has also been enhanced from 5% to 10%.
He said, in order to bring qualitative and quantitative improvement in handicrafts, modern looms are being provided to all artisans, weavers in a phased manner. “About 2000 such looms have been distributed among the artisans”, Mr. Kichloo added.
The Minister said a massive skill up-gradation and entrepreneurship development project for carpet industry across the Kashmir Valley has been approved by the Union Ministry of Textiles at a cost of Rs 5.87 crore wherein 4300 persons are being trained including 4200 persons under certificate course in carpet manufacturing (CCM) of 4 month duration and 100 persons under Diploma in Carpet Technology and Entrepreneurship development (DCTED) of one year duration.
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