Srinagar, Jan 28: The Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has welcomed the decision of enhancing the monthly stipends for Handicraft and Handloom trainees enrolled in various courses.

Talking to Rising Kashmir, President FCIK Shahid Kamli said that they welcome the decision of the administration to enhance the monthly stipends and that this would go a long way in helping these trainees attain self-sufficiency.

“With the help of this decision, more people will come forward to learn these courses and it will enhance the quality of craft in the Handicraft and Handloom department,” he said.

President FCIK also thanked and expressed his gratitude to the Commissioner/Secretary Industries and Commerce, Manoj K.Dwivedi and Director Handicrafts and Handloom Mehmood Ahmad Shah for getting this order issued.

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Industries and Commerce Department had earlier issued an order announcing enhancement of monthly stipend for trainees enrolled in various courses to boost the morale of the trainees learning various courses in Handicraft and Handloom department.

The order shall come into effect from 1st April, 2021, and according to it, in the 369 centres for elementary courses with 20 trainees in each centre, the trainees shall now be granted Rs. 1000 whereas in the Advance course in Handicraft, there are 176 centres with 20 trainees in each centre whose monthly stipend has been enhanced from Rs. 700 to Rs. 1500.

For the RMG course, there are 32 training centres with 20 trainees in each centre, and there has been an enhancement from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000.

Whereas for the Weaving course, there are 63 training centres, with 20 trainees in each centre, whose monthly stipend has been increased from Rs. 500 to 1000.

Similarly, for Weaving (Kani) course, the number of training centres is four, with 20 trainees in each centre who shall now be granted Rs. 1500 instead of 700 rupees.