Union Textiles Secretary, Neelam Shami Rao, today inaugurated the Animal Fibre Quality Assurance Laboratory at Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry (FVSc & AH), SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama Campus.

 Addressing officers and stakeholders meeting, the Union Secretary underlined the government’s commitment to protecting the purity and sanctity of Pashmina, describing it as the “gold standard” of India’s natural fibres.

She said that the Ministry is working towards creating a vibrant testing and certification ecosystem for Pashmina and other animal fibres. “Certification, numbering, and coding must be smarter so that every labelled product is traceable. In the next two to three years, we should have reliable data on the number of genuine Pashmina products entering the market,” the Secretary said.

Neelam Shami Rao assured that the Ministry would work closely with Customs, BIS, and the Ministry of Environment and Forest to evolve a consensus-driven solution that balances industry requirements with wildlife and animal rights concerns.

She stressed the need for expanding the testing infrastructure closer to production areas to reduce logistical challenges.

“We do not want your products to travel to Dehradun, Delhi or Hong Kong for testing. The capacity of existing labs must be augmented, and if more labs are required, the Textiles Ministry will infuse additional funds,” the Union Secretary announced.

On branding, Neelam Shami Rao said that the Textiles Ministry is working on a unified Pashmina branding initiative under a “Bharat Ka Fabric” campaign, integrating GI tagging and certification under a single label to avoid duplication. “Pashmina is not just a Kashmir story , it is India’s story. We will promote it globally through multi-forum branding, sourcing magazines, and digital platforms,” she said.

Union Secretary also highlighted the need to take the benefits of government interventions directly to artisans and weavers and  called for measures to ensure better access to raw material, design support, upskilling opportunities, and improved earnings. “Artisans receive only a small fraction of the final market value of their products. We must create mechanisms that protect their livelihood and preserve the art form. What is niche must remain niche and be promoted as luxury,” the Secretary remarked.

“Upskilling must be a continuous process. Protecting and empowering workers is critical because if the artisan perishes, the art perishes,” she  said, emphasizing the importance of linking consumers with the stories of the crafts they wear.

Assuring stakeholders that their concerns on standardization and regulatory frameworks will be addressed within the next two months through inter-ministerial consultations, with a roadmap expected by the end of the current quarter, Union Secretary also suggested including J&K government representation in future consultative committees while reviewing the Textile Committee Act.

Earlier, Union Secretary welcomed by the Dean, FVSc & AH, followed by a presentation on laboratory activities by the Head of the Division of Livestock Products Technology and a presentation on the development of Pashmina Mark by the Textiles Committee.

The event also featured addresses by the Presidents of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Kashmir Pashmina Organization, and Pashmina Exporters & Manufacturers Organization, who shared their insights on product diversification and promotion of knitted Pashmina products to boost exports.

Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Khan expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Textiles for strengthening the region’s fibre testing infrastructure and promoting artisan welfare.

Union Secretary also visited exhibition stalls displaying local products, witnessed demonstrations of laboratory activities, and interacted with key stakeholders from the Pashmina industry.

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 also accompanied the Union Secretary during her tour to SKUAST-K Shuhama.