To encourage the local youth to take up handicrafts manufacturing as a profession, Handicrafts Department Saturday organized an awareness cum sale camp at Town Hall Mattan.Additional District Development Commissioner Anantnag, Mr. Muhammad Younis Malik was the Chief Guest on the occasion. The awareness programme was also attended by A D Handicrafts, Bashir Ahmad, Director JKB RSETI Ghulam Geelani Kathwari besides number of artisans and local people.Speaking on the occasion, Additional District Development Commissioner stressed on a collaborative approach for the linking of flagship livelihood schemes like Hunnar and UMEED with the handicraft department. He said that concerned departments should take full advantage of schemes and provide livelihood opportunities to the artisans.
He said that the provision of SHGs in UMEED scheme provides girls a platform to become entrepreneurs and innovators in the heritage crafts like carpet making, wood carving and crewel. Speaking on the occasion, A D Handicrafts, appraised the audience about the various schemes of the department that cater to unemployed educated youths and provide them opportunity to become entrepreneurs, job providers leaders and innovators.He also highlighted the role played by JKB RSETI for training the budding entrepreneurs in traditional crafts and providing them financial support for further growth of their business units.He said that 700 cases of beneficiaries have already been sanctioned under artisan loans to establish their own income generating handicraft units in the district so far.