Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Social Welfare, Health & Medical Education and Power Development Department, Asiea Naqash today reviewed the performance of Handloom Development Corporation (HDC) Handicraft and Handloom Development Departments here at meeting of senior functionaries.The Minister reviewed the targets achieved under various schemes and business activities. She discussed in detail the avenues and innovative strategies for further promotion of state’s famous handicraft and handloom.The Minister highlighted the need to adopt modern business strategy to meet out the challenges for promotion of the Handicraft and Handloom Sector.The concerned heads of the departments highlighted the activities through power point presentation.The officials of HDC gave a resume on the Objectives of the Corporation, Distribution network, product line, Assets, Sales Performance for the last six years, Liabilities, Trading policy, besides steps introduced to contain the decline in sales, shift from sale cum return policy to direct/ own purchase, targeting larger customer base, differentiating its products and converting off season into productive sales season.The steps taken for the up gradation of showroom by enhancing capacity presentation and inventory computerization of sales outlets, renovation of showrooms, relocating of 5 Prthivi Raj Road Branch New Delhi were also listed.It was informed that the Corporation is working on the Promotion of Geographical Identification (GI) mark Pashmina.
The Minister called for adopting new ways and means for the change of course of business from the traditional to modern through innovative methods adding that it was the only way to revamp the corporation. She stated that J&K Handicrafts Corporation has been established for providing market cover to artisans/craft persons of the state. She also said that the Handicraft sector cannot survive in the state without revisiting its history, while its sanctity cannot be maintained without linking it with original ethos and Kashmir identity. “Because of inherent resilient character and sanctity attached to it, the Corporation has overcome the odds,” she said adding that Handicrafts Industry which provide livelihood to poor artisans and craft persons of the state is a trust for posterity.She said asked the department to effectively implement the centrally and State Sponsored schemes for the artisan which envisage widening of artisan base by imparting training to unskilled persons, formation of Handicrafts Cooperative Societies, Registration of Artisans, provision for Financial Assistance (under Artisan Credit Card Scheme) to individual artisans by way of 10% interest subvention on loan up to Rs.1.00 lakh, marketing support to Artisan’s Societies by organizing craft melas, exhibitions in and outside the State, Conducting of awareness camps.
Meanwhile, the senior functionaries highlighted the functions and schemes of the Handloom Development Department to promote handlooms sector in the state and outside through technology intervention, marketing incentive, design development and quality check, create self employment opportunities through skill development training and providing soft loans to entrepreneurs, provide and expand marketing avenues for handloom weavers and cooperatives, implementation of centrally sponsored schemes like National Handloom Development Programme, 10% Special Rebate on Sale of Handloom Products, Promotion and Market Intervention Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Weavers’ MUDRA Scheme, Welfare Schemes, Education of children scheme, Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevana Yojana (PMJJY) Present in the meeting were Director Handicrafts, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad, Director, IICT, Kashmir I H Drabu, Director Handloom, Rubina Kausar, Managing Director, Rakesh Sharma, Joint Director Handloom Jammu, Namrata Dogra, Deputy Director Handloom, Ravi Khajuria and other senior officers of the concerned department.