Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom department Jammu, organised first ever seven day District Handloom Expo / here in Mini Stadium Udhampur.The Expo has been sponsored by the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) Ministry of Textile Government of India under national Handloom Development programme.
Director Handicrafts and Handloom department Jammu, Dr. Vikas Gupta, inaugurated the Expo / event in presence of Additional District Development Commissioner Udhampur, Ghan-shyam Singh, Joint Director Handloom, Pardeep Manhas, Joint Director Handicrafts, Tilak Raj Thapa, Deputy Director Planning, Megha Moogi, and Deputy Director Admn. Parveen Akhter , District Information Officer Udhampur, Rajinder Kumar Digra , and Assistant Director Handloom Development department, Udhampur, Narsingh Dyal Verma , were present on the occasion.
As many as 25 cooperative societies of District Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Reasi , Jammu and Ramban are participating in the expo/ event by installing their Stalls of Handloom made Products like Blankets, Shawls, Cotton bed sheets, Cashmilon Blankets, Tweed weaving Coats, Baskets, Basohli Pashmina shawls, Towels and other Desi-Wool made Products which are attracting the attention of the visitors.
While speaking on the occasion, the Director Handicrafts and Handloom appreciated the products and encouraged the weavers community to engage more and more weavers in the Cooperative sector to provide livelihood to the un-employed persons.
All the participants also appreciated the department for holding such types of events to provide them opportunities to sell their products and also encourage the weaver community.The Director Handicrafts and Handloom department Jammu talked about different schemes as launched by the Handloom Dev. Department to benefit the weaver / Artisan community.
He urged them to avail the benefits of the Government schemes, such as Pradhan Mantri Weaver Mudra Scheme, Credit card Scheme, Education Scheme, Loan for purchase /Renovation / Modernizations of Looms, Share capital Loan, Karkhandar scheme, Block level Clusters, and formation of Co-operative Societies.
He further stressed that the Weavers should adopt new technology and develop new design by replacing the old type of pit looms to Modern Fly shuttle looms so that the quality of products and their earning is improved. Weaver members thanked the officers of the department, who participated in the events/ Expo with great enthusiasm.
Later, Registration certificates and Weaver cards were provided to newly registered cooperative and Artisans.Artists of Information Department Udhampur and Students of Government Girls Higher Secondary School Udhampur and Government Higher Secondary School Chirai presented a theme based scintillating cultural program which was highly appreciated by one and all on the occasion.