Srinagar, Nov 20: The Valley will soon have a National Institute of Fashion Technology, more Haats (exhibition centres) will be opened to help craftsmen market their products, and two more sericulture clusters will come up soon in Bandipora and Uri.
This was stated by Secretary Textiles, government of India Rita Menon at the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on Handicraft, Handloom and Sericulture. The workshop is being organized by the union ministry of textiles in association with the Department of Industries and Commerce, J&K at SKICC, here.
Menon said the aim of this workshop was to disseminate information about various programmes and schemes being offered by the central government in textile and handicraft sectors.
“In tune with the central government’s interest to implement various schemes in J&K we have extended the Mega Cluster Scheme for the Valley carpet industry,” she said, adding that they would help technological upgradation and offer schemes including insurance for craftsmen empowerment in the state.
She said the health insurance was one of the schemes that would bring about the required change in the health conditions of the weavers and craftsmen of the Valley. “We are also looking to provide many business benefits to the weavers. On the marketing front, we will provide them more Haats. I suggest that more venues should be identified for establishing new Haats,” she said.
Secretary Textiles said there was a need to explore new markets like South America, Africa and Australia to market the products.
“Recently Islamabad was declared as the district of export excellence and we are thinking to make it a centre for launching various schemes on handicraft sector,” she added.
She said J&K can help India to become number one silk producer in the world. “India is the second largest silk producer in the world and it can reach the first slot if attention is paid to the sericulture industry of the state. The climate of the valley is quite conducive for the sericulture,” she said.
“The state already has two sericulture clusters in Pulwama and Rajouri and two more will be coming up soon in Bandipora and Uri,” she added.
For handloom sector the Secretary of Textiles said that they will soon inaugurate many new yarn depots. She said the state and central governments need to work together for improving the conditions of these industries.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Secretary J&K S S Kapur said the Handicraft and Handloom were the critical sectors for state economy and the government had to make the best use of them.
He said if the government would safeguard the interest of the artisans associated with these sectors then these sectors could emerge as big employment generators.
He said there was a need for introduction of innovations in these sectors so as to improve their turnover. “Many initiatives have been taken from time to time to improve these sectors and I suggest that there is a need to develop a strategic framework for the future action to develop handicraft and handloom sectors in the valley,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion Principal Secretary Industries J&K Anil Gowswami requested Ritu Menon to allow fabrication of the 40,000 carpet looms announced by the Prime Minister in the Valley.
 “We (the industry) have the potential to make these looms in the Valley and are able to create 300-400 such looms in a month and hence will be able to create 8000 in a year at competitive prices. So I believe that the locals should be given the opportunity,” he said. 

Lastupdate on : Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 IST