Srinagar, May 12: In what would make it easy for the customers across the world to purchase the famous Kashmir-made handloom products, the J&K Handloom Development Corporation is going to start online sale within a fortnight. The corporation has uploaded all its products on its website.
 Decision on this was taken at the 58th meeting of the Board of Directors of the JKHDC held here today with Minister of Industry and Commerce S S Slathia in chair.
 The meeting approved several proposals for expanding the marketing cover for the handloom products which included utilization of emporia in various parts of the country for sale of handloom products, opening of showrooms in valley’s elite Sangarmal shopping plaza and renovation of heritage showroom at Government Handloom Silk Weaving Factory, Rambagh.
 It is also proposed to open a showroom for State’s handloom at Handloom Havili, Janpath, New Delhi.
 The meeting also approved execution of the II phase Interacted Wool and Woollen Development Centre for which Development Commissioner for Handloom, Ministry of Textiles, government of India has sanctioned Rs 10.36 crore.
 The project is to be completed in four years and would help in strengthening of the existing infrastructure at UNDP and shoddy spinning plant to increase spinning of 640 spindles for better use of local wool.
 The meeting was informed that the corporation has revived the weaving of Pashmina shawls at Basooli during last fiscal and produced 93 Pashmina shawls of imported quality on experimental basis. Of these, 83 shawls have already been sold. Speaking on the occasion,  the Minister called for promoting production of handmade handloom products adding that production of machine made handlooms would be discouraged at all levels.
 He directed for strict enforcement of the Tourist Trade Act to check misuse of patent “Poshish” of the HDC.
 He also directed for revival of production of novelty items including weaving of rare variety of Basoli Pashmina Shawl, recreation and development of antique and rare designs in Kashmiri Jama wares of royal Pashmina shawls adding that the Government would provide every possible assistance for the purpose.
 Managing Director JKHDC Showkat Ali informed the meeting that the Corporation has set a production target of 4.27 lakh meters of different fabrics and 840 numbers of Pashmina shawls to achieve sales of Rs 1176.80 lakhs during the year 2011-12.
 The meeting was also informed that the Corporation is introducing new brand of 7 N M tweed cloth blended of local wools, handloom made linen suiting/shirting cloth, embroidered Pashmina Shawls/ Kanishawls with recreated designs/motifs of Royale concept and improved quality of Basooli Pashmina shawls in the market for which the Government has earmarked Rs 250 lakhs in current year’s plan for uplift of weavers and artisans.
 Commissioner Secretary Finance, Sudanshu Panday, Commissioner/Secretary Industry and Commerce, Umang Narula, Additional Development Commissioner Handloom, Government of India, S K Jha, Director Handloom Development Department, Chandra Gupta and Director Planning and Development, S S Jamwal attended the meeting.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 IST