In order to give a fillip to the handicrafts sector and encourage the local youth to take up handicrafts as a profession, Handicraft Department Kulgam today organised day-long awareness camp at Town Hall.District Development Commissioner Kulgam, Mr Sajad Hussain Ganaie was the chief guest on the occasion.Assistant Director Handicrafts, representatives of Handloom, Industries, JKEDI, Lead Bank, JK bank, besides, a large number of artisans and local people predominantly women artisans, participated in the programme. Speaking on the occasion, the DDC said that handicrafts industry, being the foremost traditional industry, has played a significant role in generating livelihoods and employment avenues besides representing the unique culture and tradition of our valley. He further said that this sector is a major source of income generation for weaker sections especially for the artisans of the rural community.Owing to the mammoth potential in the sector, the DDC stressed upon the handicrafts department to hold massive awareness camps in the far-flung areas of the district so that unemployed youth gets motivated to adopt this sector besides benefitting from the schemes.Speaking on the occasion, AD Handicrafts briefed about the activities taken up by the department for ensuing financial independence to womenfolk. Besides, she apprised the participants about various schemes to cater unemployed educated youth and provide them with the opportunity to become budding entrepreneurs, job providers and innovators.