Kashmir exports handloom products worth Rs 2,567 crore in over two years

Handicraft and handloom products worth Rs 2,567 crore have been exported from Kashmir Valley in the last two financial years and the first three quarters of the current fiscal, according to an official statement.

A spokesperson of the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, said the exports are expected to cumulatively touch Rs 3,000 crore for three years, by the end of the last quarter of the CFY.

Officials said while Kani and Sozni shawls lead exports worth Rs 1,105 crore, hand-knotted carpet exports stood at Rs 728 crore in the last three years. The other products exported include crewel, papier mache, chain stitch and wood carving.

The spokesman said the Department shall facilitate export of hand-made Kashmir products for which a subsidy scheme is available, giving incentive of 10% of the total volume of handloom/ handicraft export products to any country with maximum reimbursement up to Rs 5 crore in favour of the eligible exporters registered with the Department.

Highlighting the government’s strategy for welfare of artisan community, the spokesman said the Department has a well-established Design Studio in the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology and unique prototypes conceived by the School of Designs and Craft Development Institute.

“The artisans can access these contemporary designs and packaging models to add value to their products in niche high-end markets,” he said.

The statement said for welfare of artisans, the Department has several flagship schemes in operation including Credit Card Scheme, Mudra, Financial Assistance Scheme for Cooperatives, Karkhandar Scheme and Education Scholarship for the children of craftsmen.

Under the National Wool Policy, the department has selected 100 weaver beneficiaries for distribution of free modified modern steel carpet looms in Kashmir at a total cost of Rs 43.70 lakh and the department will pitch for another 250 improvised looms for distribution in the next financial year.

Emphasising upon the department’s focus on testing and QR coding of GI registered craft products to weed out sale of counterfeit products, the spokesperson stated that the department has augmented manpower and equipment at its premier Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC) and IICT lab for carpets.

Laying stress upon promotion of training of female artisans, the spokesman stated that as many as 17,182 women have been trained in various crafts at 432 Elementary and Advanced Training Centres of the Department in the last four years.