In a bid to benefit from the colossal experience gained over years of perseverance and patience in the field of art and crafts, the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, today organized a meeting with the National Awardees to obtain firsthand feedback from them in their respective crafts and way forward.

Structured meetings with these stalwarts shall help the Department to frame a strategy to boost sale and export of exquisite handmade products and encourage new artisans and weavers to set up their own startup ventures.  

The meeting was attended by Abdul Majeed Mir (Aari Staple), Ghulam Nabi Dar (Walnut Wood Carving), Hakeem Manzoor Ahmad (Papier Mache) and Manzoor Ahmad Khan, Mansoor Ahmad Makaiya & Nisar Ahmad Khan, all in the field of Kani weaving. 

During the discussions with Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Mussarat Islam, the National Awardees appreciated the role of the department in safeguarding the welfare of artisans and promotion of genuine craft products. They also lauded the recent efforts of the Department in curbing sale of counterfeit items in the name of hand-made products, which are bringing a bad name to the rich heritage of Kashmir.

The Director described them as unique package of art and talent that the department wears as a badge of honour. He assured the National Awardees of scaling up GI tagging, certification and QR coding of handmade items in its PTQCC, IICT labs and Quality Control labs so that customer confidence is secured. “The department has requested these master craftsmen to share their views for promotion of unique Kashmir crafts,” he added.

He also requested the Awardees to partner the initiatives of the Department in capacity building of new artisan and weavers so that the rich crafts of Kashmir are saved for posterity.