Srinagar, Sept 10: Union Textiles Secretary, Neelam Shami Rao on Wednesday said the government is committed to protecting the purity and sanctity of Pashmina, describing it as the “gold standard” of India’s natural fibres. She said the government is working towards creating a vibrant testing and certification ecosystem for Pashmina and other animal fibres.
“Certification, numbering, and coding must be smarter so that every labelled product is traceable. In the next two to three years, we should have reliable data on the number of genuine Pashmina products entering the market,” the Secretary said after inaugurating the Animal Fibre Quality Assurance Laboratory at Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry (FVSc & AH), SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama Campus.
Addressing officers and stakeholders meeting, Rao said the ministry would work closely with Customs, BIS, and the Ministry of Environment and Forest to evolve a consensus-driven solution that balances industry requirements with wildlife and animal rights concerns.
She stressed the need for expanding the testing infrastructure closer to production areas to reduce logistical challenges. “We do not want your products to travel to Dehradun, Delhi or Hong Kong for testing. The capacity of existing labs must be augmented, and if more labs are required, the Textiles Ministry will infuse additional funds,” she said.
On branding, Union Secretary said the Textiles Ministry is working on a unified Pashmina branding initiative under a “Bharat Ka Fabric” campaign, integrating GI tagging and certification under a single label to avoid duplication.
“Pashmina is not just a Kashmir story; it is India’s story. We will promote it globally through multi-forum branding, sourcing magazines, and digital platforms,” she said.
Rao called for taking the benefits of government interventions directly to artisans and weavers and called for measures to ensure better access to raw material, design support, upskilling opportunities, and improved earnings.
“Artisans receive only a small fraction of the final market value of their products. We must create mechanisms that protect their livelihood and preserve the art form. What is niche must remain niche and be promoted as luxury,” she remarked. “Upskilling must be a continuous process. Protecting and empowering workers is critical because if the artisan perishes, the art perishes.
The Union Secretary assured stakeholders that their concerns on standardisation and regulatory frameworks will be addressed within the next two months through inter-ministerial consultations, with a roadmap expected by the end of the current quarter. She suggested including J&K government representation in future consultative committees while reviewing the Textile Committee Act.
Earlier, Union Secretary Rao was welcomed by the Dean, FVSc & AH, followed by a presentation on laboratory activities by the Head of the Division of Livestock Products Technology and a presentation on the development of Pashmina Mark by the Textiles Committee.
The event also featured addresses by the Presidents of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Kashmir Pashmina Organisation, and Pashmina Exporters & Manufacturers Organisation, who shared their insights on product diversification and promotion of knitted Pashmina products to boost exports.
Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Khan expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Textiles for strengthening the region’s fibre testing infrastructure and promoting artisan welfare.
Union Secretary also visited exhibition stalls displaying local products, witnessed demonstrations of laboratory activities, and interacted with key stakeholders from the Pashmina industry.
Joint Secretary, MoT, Padmini Singla; Member Secretary, Central Silk Board, P. Sivakumar; Director Handicrafts & Handloom, Mussarat Zia; Director IICT, Zubair Ahmad and other senior officers also accompanied the Union Secretary during her tour to SKUAST-K Shuhama.
