Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today chaired a meeting of Handicrafts and Handloom department besides Jammu Kashmir Industries to get first hand feedback about functioning of the departments.

Regarding Handicrafts and Handloom department, Advisor directed the officers to strengthen the base level of the department and take measures for uplifting the economic conditions of artisans. He said that endeavour of the department should be to initiate adequate steps for helping artisans in increasing their production and showcasing their products.
Advisor directed the officers to explore possibilities for virtual opportunities for the artisans for showcasing their products in view of the pandemic. He further asked them to explore possibilities for convergence with the National Rural Livelihood Mission for providing an immediate platform to artisans. He asked for working out strategies to give a fillip to economic activities of the artisans and look for avenues which liberates them from economic distress.
While emphasising on the need for redressal of grievances of the artisans, Advisor directed the district officers to resolve the issues at the district level and pendency of the grievances should be brought down to zero.
To increase marketing of the handicraft and handloom products, Advisor directed the officers to increase the frequency of fairs and identify locations along Srinagar-Jammu highway for marketing of the products. He said that imparting training should be coupled with constitution of groups so that they become viable units and hone the skills of the artisans.
Advisor further asked the department to compile the number of artisans working in a district so that the department comes to know about the number of artisans associated with a particular craft. He said that each district has a particular craft and we need to pump in our resources accordingly so as to get better dividends.
Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce Department, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, while speaking on the occasion, asked the concerned to strictly follow the guidelines and directions issued in the meeting.
He informed that promotional activities are being organised as exhibitions, expos to provide a platform to the craftsmen for marketing of their products as well as educate them about the market demand. It was informed that the department has entered into an agreement with the online portals for sale of handicraft products of the artisans of Jammu and Kashmir.
A detailed presentation was also given listing the health and function of the department in both the divisions and other concerning issues also came up for discussion.
Regarding the functioning of JKI, Advisor was informed that the department has identified several units for revival/establishment so as to have an end to end solution right from raw material to finished product.