As part of the ongoing celebrations of National Handicrafts Week 2025, the Handicrafts Service Centre (HSC), Baramulla, under the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, organised a Toolkit Distribution Programme for embroidery artisans in Kupwara district on 11th December.

The programme was aimed at empowering local artisans by providing essential toolkits to enhance their skills, improve productivity, and support sustainable livelihoods, while simultaneously preserving the region’s rich and age-old tradition of embroidery.
Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Director, HSC Baramulla, Dr. Waseem Hussain emphasised the significance of such initiatives and stated that the distribution of toolkits is a vital step towards strengthening the capacity of artisans and enabling them to produce high-quality handicrafts in an increasingly competitive market. He added that National Handicrafts Week offers an important platform to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of artisans and to reaffirm the government’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting traditional crafts.
Following the toolkit distribution, a road show was organised to create awareness about the importance of handicrafts and the various welfare schemes and initiatives undertaken for the benefit of artisans. The road show drew considerable public attention and highlighted the role of handicrafts in cultural preservation as well as local economic development.
Officials from the Handicrafts Department, representatives of HSC Baramulla, and a large number of local artisans were present during the programme.