Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 17: The J&K Artisans Rehabilitation Forum (JKARF) today said that the artisans across Kashmir Valley are at their lowest due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that the Government has not been giving due attention to them.
Pervaiz Ahmad Bhat, President, JKARF while talking to the media persons here said that a notion that has been created that the artisans are working at their homes despite lockdown and that there was no impact of the lockdown on the artisans.
“But, let me tell you that exporters and those associated with the sector are at their lowest; when the exporters have got no orders, what are the artisans going to make and how are they going to survive; the notion that is being created is untrue and does not hold any ground,” he said.
He said that the artisans and those associated with the sector have not seen such a situation in the period of last 30 years which they are facing currently.
“The situation is unprecedented; the orders we used to get from Europe are zero; nobody is making anything; even the local sales are zero and as the result, people in the handicraft sector are suffering,” he said.
The JKARF said that even though the Government announced a relief package for revival of the economy, “but there was nothing for the handicrafts sector; which is something that needs immediate focus and attention,” he said.
The Forum said that they are not seeking any immediate relief package, but are demanding that the artists should be supported, to begin with at this crucial juncture so that they could survive the crisis at hand. “We have to save them so that they can work when the situation improves,” they said.
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