Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Prakash Ganga, in presence of MLC Sofi Yousuf and Vice Chairman J&K Khadi & Village Industries Board (KVIB), today laid foundation stone of a Common Facility Centre (CFC) at Martand Chain Stitch and Embroidery (CS&E) Cluster at Rainipora here.The CFC is the first in the State under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) programme of Government of India and is part of the Martand Chain Stitch and Embroidery Cluster being developed at an estimated total project cost of Rs 4.48 crore.The development of CFC, at a cost of 1.25 crore, is part of the Hard Intervention part of the cluster project which also includes a raw material bank and market infrastructure.The Martand Cluster project is one of five clusters the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) GoI has approved for the State and is one of 37 clusters projected by KVIB to the MSME.Speaking on the occasion, Chander Prakash Ganga, while expressing happiness about Shangus being the first to get a CFC under SFURTI, said the centre will facilitate increased production of local handloom and handicraft products and help in the economic betterment of involved artisans.
Taking note of complaints regarding losses suffered by artisans on account of involvement of middlemen and problems faced in regard to sanctioning of loans by banks, Ganga issued on the spot instructions to the concerned to look into the concerns raised on the occasion.He also instructed the concerned ADC present on the occasion to convene a meeting and raise the issue of loans with lead banks. He said the artisans' guarantor is the government and that they must face no problems with regard to getting loans.The Minister, while responding to VC JKKVIB's request in the regard, also announced setting up of an industrial estate in the Shangus. He issued on the spot instructions to the concerned district administration to identify land for it in the area.MLC Sofi Yousuf and VC KVIB also spoke on the occasion and thanked the Industries Minister for his keen interest in the development and upliftment of local art and artisans of the State.Ganga also thanked the local MLA Gulzar Ahmad Wani for his active representation of Shangus.The cluster project is projected for completion within nine working months.Secretary JKKVIB, Additional Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Directors Handicrafts, Handlooms and Industries & Commerce Departments, MDs JK Handloom Development Corporation and Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation besides some 300 artisans were also present on the occasion.