Srinagar, Sep 09: A high-level meeting was convened on Tuesday in Srinagar under the chairmanship of Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, in the presence of the Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Industries & Commerce Department, UT of J&K, and other senior officials.
The meeting, held from 11:35 AM to 12:35 PM, brought together prominent exporters and stakeholders of the handicraft and carpet industry from Jammu & Kashmir.
Sheikh Ashiq, Member, Committee of Administration, CEPC, actively participated in the deliberations, raising the “burning issue” of machine-made carpets being sold as Handmade carpets & crafts in the handicraft showrooms.
He expressed sincere appreciation for the swift response and order issued by the Commissioner/Secretary and Director of Handloom & Handicrafts to safeguard genuine handmade crafts.
Sheikh Ashiq emphasized the “prime issue” facing all artisans connected to the council: the urgent need for the implementation of this order in letter and spirit to ensure that no one can sell machine-made carpets and crafts within handicraft showrooms. “There should be no space left for this thing,” and called for concrete action benefiting the thousands of artisans whose livelihoods depend on the sector.
In a major assurance to the sector, Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, assured exporters and artisans that strict nationwide measures will soon be implemented to ensure that machine-made crafts will not be permitted in handicrafts showrooms. This commitment represents a significant step to restore buyer confidence, safeguard artisan livelihoods, and preserve the cultural heritage of J&K’s handmade industries.
A unified front was presented by leading industry bodies including the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), Indian Silk Export Promotion Council (ISEPC), MEERAS Carpet Weavers Industrial Cooperative Ltd., Kashmir Carpet Cluster Development Organization (KCCDO), Kashmir Carpet Manufacturers Association (KCMA), The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), along with exporters and stakeholders.
They unanimously stressed the urgency of the issue and pledged full support for the enforcement ensuring no machine-made carpets and other crafts are sold within handicraft showrooms. This collaboration reflects the entire community’s commitment to protecting the heritage, livelihoods, and global reputation of Kashmir’s handmade crafts.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment towards vigilance, cooperation, and sustained efforts to uphold the standards of authenticity in the handicraft sector of Jammu & Kashmir, ultimately benefiting artisans, exporters, and consumers alike.
