Minister of Industries and Commerce Chander Parkash Ganga today said that state’s artisans would be encouraged and promoted across all lines so that they earn their livelihood through finished goods.The Minister, after inaugurating annual exhibition by Handicrafts department, said that the government has introduced different crafts in this field and maximum efforts would be made to introduce more crafts in future for welfare and uplift of the artisan’s class.Earlier, the Minister along with senior officers took round of the ground to inspect different stalls set up by the handicraft department.Lauding the efforts of artisans, cooperative societies and trainees for their improved quality of work, the Minister said that effective platforms would be provided to them for excellence and progress in individual crafts to make them potential entrepreneurs.The Minister directed the department to explore more possibilities for establishing clusters on the pattern of one under process in Samba, Jammu and Kathua. He stressed for revival of handicraft sector in Jammu division in a big way.The Minister also asserted that loans facilities under Artisan Credit Card (ACC) scheme would certainly be increased in future for benefits of artisans.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Handicrafts Dr Mushtaq Ahmed informed that the new designs have been introduced in different crafts. He said that the instructors would be equipped with modern designing skills at School of Designs at Jammu and Srinagar as a part of their refresher course.In the exhibition, over 18 handicraft cooperative societies are taking part to display their finished goods in different crafts. The Government district stores from Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, Samba and Kathua also participated.The exhibition having 25 stalls of various categories would remain alive from 22 September to 1 October.On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Reasi Prasana Ramaswamy G, Managing Director Handloom, Joint Director Handicraft Pawan Kumar Sharma, Development Officer Handicrafts Jammu Mamta Devi, Deputy Director Technical Education, Assistant Director Handicraft Reasi Om Parkash, Deputy Registrar Induscos Sarvar Hussain, HTO Om Prakash and other officers of handicraft.