Kashmir Valley’s trade body expresses concern over sale of fake handicraft products to tourists

Our Correspondent

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Srinagar, August 13

Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry—Valley’s top trade body—on Monday expressed serious concerns about the sale of fake and imitation machine-made products to the tourists in the name of Kashmir handicraft products.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, KCCI termed it a matter of grave concern and said that such malpractice is “bound to cut into the very roots of our traditional handicraft business.”

“We feel duty bound to warn those traders who indulge in selling machine-made product in the name of genuine Kashmiri handicraft to desist from indulging in such unscrupulous business practices, failing which they shall be identified through special squads of KCCI and exposed in the media,” said a KCCI spokesperson.

He said KCCI has resolved to take necessary steps to protect, preserve and promote Valley handicrafts known world over for the high-quality of material used and its incomparable craftsmanship. “We all know the origin of Kashmiri handicraft dates back to the 14th Century reflecting a confluence of various regions and cultures, notably Central Asia and Persia,” KCCI President Javid Ahmad Bhat said.

“Notable areas of our handicraft products are textiles (all kind of Pashmina shawls, Sozni embroidered shawls, mulberry silk products, carpet and rugs, tapestry, crewel, chain stitch, phulkari), wood carving , papier machie, copperware and silverware,” he said.

According to the spokesperson, the handicrafts play a crucial role in the state economy providing employment to various sections of the society. “Unfortunately, in recent times, we have been receiving complaints from tourists that machine-made products and fake items are being sold to them in the name of Kashmiri handicraft items,” he said.

“KCCI has taken a serious note of such unfair trade practices and considers it not only a crime against society but also a serious criminal offence, which is bringing a bad name to Kashmir,” the spokesperson said.

Noting that KCCI is not against those who are dealing in machine-made products, the spokesperson said it cannot afford to see machine-made products being sold in the name of Kashmir handicraft, which brings disrepute to the traditional handicraft.

The KCCI suggested that the shopkeepers label their merchandise in order to distinguish between genuine and machine-made products. It advised that handicraft traders should invariably attach a proper label to their product giving its description as a genuine handicraft product or otherwise, the spokesperson said.