Srinagar, Sep 20: The Handicrafts Quality Control Council, in its recent meeting held under the chairmanship of Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir on Tuesday, proposed the inclusion of 24 crafts to be declared as Notified Crafts under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Handicrafts Quality Control Act 1978.
The said council, under the chairmanship of Mahmood Ahmad Shah, also proposed registration as artisans of the persons practicing the crafts, to be notified in addition to the crafts already notified vide SO No. 269 dated: 065.08.2021 and SRO 14, dated: 7th of January 1997.
The Director of Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir made special reference to the empowerment of the categories of craft people so that this step of inclusion will in turn attract more and more people towards the cottage sector and employment opportunities for the youth can get a flip.
The meeting assumed significance in view of the fact that recognition of those crafts and artisans was discussed that has not been included in the fray to date for one reason or another. The meeting discussed the ways and means to bring more crafts under the ambit of the Jammu & Kashmir Handicrafts Quality Control Act, 1978.
It was felt that bringing more crafts under the ambit would not only provide much-needed focus to such arts but would also aid in extending the benefits of current government schemes to such groups, thus addressing a long-pending demand.
The meeting was also attended by Vikas Gupta, Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Jammu, Atul Sharma, Managing Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Corporation, Zubair Ahmad, Director IICT Srinagar, Mirza Shahid Ali Dy. Director Quality ControlSheikh Aashiq,President KCCI,Rafiq Ahmad Sofi, Representative from Tahafuz, Gh Nabi Dar, Representative of Meeras Society.
The exercise will help in increasing the number of genuine artisan communities and such a measure will extend the benefits of the govt. schemes to the hitherto unrecognized artisan segments of the society through which they can avail of the Artisan/Weaver Credit Scheme, Kharkhandar Scheme, Assistance under the Cooperative Act, MUDRA Scheme, and other educational benefits for their kin.
The inclusion of the crafts into the list of notified crafts will improve the socio-economic conditions of the marginalized artisan community. Moreover, there are certain categories of craftsmen whose role is very important for the final product of a handicraft item, such as copperware, Sakhta/engraving, pottery, Wagguv, Paper Pulp (Sakhta), Tracer, Dryer, Washer, etc.
This category of craft practitioners plays a critical role in the overall development of the union territory’s craft sector; however, the department’s financial empowerment schemes have yet to reach such segments of the artisans.
