Union Textiles Secretary, Neelam Shami Rao, today inaugurated the Animal Fibre Quality Assurance Laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry (FVSc & AH), SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama Campus.
Speaking at the officers and stakeholders meeting, the Secretary reiterated the Government’s commitment to preserving the purity and global reputation of Pashmina, calling it the "gold standard" of India’s natural fibres. She emphasized the need for smart certification, traceability, and data-driven regulation, aiming to have accurate market figures for genuine Pashmina products within the next 2–3 years.
She announced that the Ministry of Textiles is working to strengthen testing infrastructure near production sites to reduce logistical burdens, stating:
“We do not want your products to travel to Dehradun, Delhi, or Hong Kong for testing. If needed, we will fund more labs.”
On branding, Rao introduced the “Bharat Ka Fabric” campaign, which will unify GI tagging and certification under a single label, positioning Pashmina as a luxury Indian heritage product on global platforms.
She also highlighted the need to empower artisans, noting that they often receive a small fraction of the final market value. She advocated for mechanisms to improve raw material access, design innovation, upskilling, and livelihood protection, stressing:
“If the artisan perishes, the art perishes.”
Rao assured that stakeholder concerns regarding standardization and regulatory frameworks would be addressed within two months through inter-ministerial consultations, with a roadmap expected by the end of the current quarter. She also proposed involving the J&K Government in future consultative bodies reviewing the Textile Committee Act.
Earlier, the Secretary was welcomed by the Dean of FVSc & AH. Presentations were given on the lab’s capabilities and the ongoing development of the Pashmina Mark.
The event featured remarks from the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Kashmir Pashmina Organization, and Pashmina Exporters & Manufacturers Organization, all of whom discussed strategies for product diversification and boosting exports.
Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, thanked the Ministry for supporting artisan welfare and fibre quality infrastructure.
The Union Secretary also visited exhibition stalls, interacted with artisans and stakeholders, and observed live lab demonstrations.
She was accompanied by 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.