No stone to be left unturned to promote handicrafts sector: Advisor Skandan

Advisor to Governor, K Skandan, Wednesday chaired separate meetings to review the implementation of CAPEX Budget 2018-19 and 2019-20 of Handicrafts Department, Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation, Handloom Department and Handloom Development Corporations here.

During the meeting, the advisor took sector wise review ofthe CAPEX Budget allocation and implementation of welfare schemes of thedepartments and corporations.

   

The Advisor was informed that an allocation of Rs 8.89 crorehas been sanctioned for Handicrafts Department and Handicrafts (S&E)Corporation under CAPEX Budget 2019 – 20.

It was said that out of the sanctioned allocation, Rs 3.40crore have been released and Rs 10.47 lakh have been spent till June 2019 underthe budget.

The meeting was also told that under CAPEX Budget 2018-19,out of approved outlay of Rs 8.39 crore, Rs 8.17 crore were spent for the yearachieving a target of 97 per cent utilization of the total budget.

With regard to the progress of J&K Handicrafts (S&E)Corporation, it was given out that all the approved outlay of Rs 5.27 crore wasexpended for the year 2018-19 under the CAPEX Budget.

Whereas, for the year 2019-20, a total of Rs 1.52 lakhoutlay was approved, the meeting was informed.

On the occasion, the advisor enquired about theimplementation of several schemes and also about the trainees who have beentrained from the skill development institutes. He also suggested for theintegration of different schemes under one head and convergence of welfareschemes for the larger benefit of the artisans and handloom weavers.

The meeting was also informed that an Art Gallery at KashmirHaat Srinagar is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 crore lakh andRs 75 lakh have been already released for the project.

Under Artisan Credit Card (ACC) scheme, Rs 3 crorehave beenallocated, of which Rs 1.5 crore have been released for self employment toindividual artisans, the meeting was told.

Speaking on the occasion, the advisor termed the Kashmirhandicrafts as lifeline of Kashmir arts and said that no stone will be leftunturned to promote the sector.

He said the idea of various government-run schemes is toincrease the income of poor artisans and weavers and also to create employmentopportunities for the youth of the State. He directed to create a database of artisans and weavers and to go intoend-to-end details so that loopholes, if any, would be plugged in any scheme.

Later, Advisor Skandan in a separate meeting reviewedimplementation of CAPEX Budget for Handloom Development Department and HandloomDevelopment Corporation.

The advisor was informed that out of approved outlay of Rs3.11crore for the year 2018-19, Rs 2.8 crore have been utilised. For year2019-20 of sanctioned Rs 1.47 crore, as many as Rs 72 lakh have been releasedtill June 2019 for J&K Handloom Development Department.

It was also given out that under CAPEX Budget 2018-19 forHandloom Development Corporation, cent percent utilization of Rs 9.36 crore wasrealised and for the year 2019-20 Rs 8.61 crore have been sanctioned for theDepartment.

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