Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Prakash Ganga inaugurated the State level Exhibition -cum -Sale organised by the Department of Handicrafts at Higher Secondary School Katra.Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, IT, Tribal Affairs, Labour and Employment, Relief and Rehabilitation Ajay Nanda, Deputy Commissioner Reasi Ravinder Kumar and Director Handicrafts Mushtaq Ahmed Shah were also present on the occasion.
The Minister inspected all the stalls installed by the artisans and craftsman displaying their beautiful products.Speaking on the occasion, Ganga said that such exhibitions help in promoting the traditional handicrafts of the state besides assisting the artisans and craftsman to fetch good returns for their products.Such exhibitions also provide an opportunity to the buyers to come in direct contact with the sellers and hence, facilitate the interaction between the buyer and the seller, added the Minister. He said that Government is putting concerted efforts to promote handicrafts and soon the process of GoI certification and barcoding would be taken up so that the artisans can be benefitted.
The Minister, further, urged the artisans and craftsmen to avail the benefits of the various schemes launched by the department meant for their socio -economic upliftment.In his address Ajay Nanda said that such an exhibition should also be organized at Shiv Khori during Shivratri festival as large number of people visit the area during the festival. He further said that awareness camps highlighting the various schemes of Handicrafts department should also be organized at far-flung areas for generating awareness among the common masses regarding these schemes.A cultural programme was also organized by the Information Department on this occasion.Earlier, the Director Handicrafts informed that it was for the first time that such an exhibition was organized at Katra. He also highlighted the various schemes of the Handicrafts department and exhorted upon the artisans to avail benefits of these schemes.Dy CEO SMVDSB Pankaj Gupta, Development Officer (NT) Handicrafts Jammu Champa Devi Thakur, Development Officer Handicrafts Jammu Dèepika Rana, SDM Katra Neelam Khajuria, officers from the department members of various societies, artisans and people in large number were present on the occasion.