Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Parkash Ganga today inaugurated 10-day handicrafts exhibition-cum-sale at Kala Kendra here today.Being organized by the Department of Handicrafts, the objective of the event is to promote and exhibit handicrafts products besides facilitating direct contact between buyers and the sellers.Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi was also present on the occasion.Ganga inspected various stalls displaying handicrafts products of all the three regions of the state produced by handicraft cooperative societies, artisans and craftsman.The Minister asked the artisans and craftsmen to come forward and take the benefit of schemes being launched by the department for their socio-economic uplift. He said there is good scope for employment generation in handicrafts sector and unemployed youth must optimally utilize this opportunity to settle their lives towards a fine earning. “Government is committed to extend all logistic and financial support to artisans enabling them further develop their skills and boost their business”, he asserted.
Ganga assured that government will make every effort to improve the crafts activities of skilled artisans. He also stressed upon the officers and workers to further step up their efforts in organizing such type of exhibitions, trade fairs and awareness camps on regular basis within and outside the state to ensure marketing facilities to the artisans.Meanwhile, Ganga interacted with the artisans and enquired about their products and sale status.Andrabi appreciated the efforts of the department in organizing the event which would encourage the participants to further add to their business besides persuading others to adopt such self employment ventures in a big way.Director Handicrafts, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah presented a detailed description of activities of the department. He said that during current year the department organized four exhibitions within the state, whereas the participation of artisans of the state was ensured in four events outside the state including IITF New Delhi, where the artisans sold goods worth Rs.1.20 crore.Director Handloom Jammu Rajesh Kumar, Joint Director Handicraft Jammu Pawan Kumar Sharma, and all district officers were present in the function.