Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Prakash Ganga has stressed on adopting innovative measures to revive the Handloom Industry in the State on modern lines and strengthen the Handloom Development Corporation.The Minister was addressing the 62nd meeting of Board of Directors of J&K Handloom Development Corporation, here today.Minister of State, Industries and Commerce, Mohammad Ashraf Mir was also present in the meeting.
The Minister laid emphasis on reaching out to the weavers in the far flung areas and providing them information regarding the welfare programmes being implemented for their welfare along with providing adequate marketing facilities for their products.While reviewing the progress of Export oriented Handloom Development Project (EOHDP) Samba under ASIDE, the Minister directed the officers to submit DPR so that the matter would be taken up with the Union Ministry of Textiles for the upgradation of the project.
Mr. Ganga said that the corporation should aim at promoting “Poshish Brand” among consumers and set new benchmarks in quality and consumer satisfaction.MD JKHDC Anal Kumar Gupta informed the chair about the major initiatives taken by the Centre and state government for promoting handloom industry in the state. He said that the mission of the corporation is provide requisite support to the weavers by providing them raw material and marketing facilities to Handloom Cooperative societies, Handloom SSI units in respect of purchase of textile items.He further apprised that presently around 2500 weavers/artisans are directly or indirectly associated with HDC adding that the Corporation organized special exhibitions and participated in various Expos/Exhibitions held within and outside the state and a sale of Rs 52 Lacs was registered during the year 2014-15 . During the current year, the corporation registered sales of Rs 20.25 Lacs in 3 expos held at Delhi, Lucknow and Jammu.
Rs 1 Crore was sanctioned for Pheran Project to manufacture Pherans for consumers in Delhi and nearby areas and till date the corporation has spent 53.12 Lacs besides manufacturing 557 Pherans with support of NIFT, he further informed the members. It was also given out that renovation works are underway in the store at Jannpath, New Delhi where a POSHISH showroom will soon be set up .The Commissioner/ Secretary Industries and Commerce, Shailendra Kumar, Special Secretary, Finance, Arun Kumar Sharma, Director General Budget, Finance Department, Ishaq Wani, Director, Handloom Department, Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Managing Director, J&K State Handloom Development Corporation, Anal Kumar Gupta and concerned officers were also present in the meeting.