Govt to push J&K handloom

The textiles ministry has identified a series of initiatives to boost the handloom and handicraft industry in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to Business Standard, textiles secretary Wajahat Habibullah said the ministry would release Rs 13 crore (Rs 130 million) in the remaining part of the current fianancial year to assist various textiles-related programmes in the state.

The benefits of the textile centre infrastructure development scheme is being extended to the handicraft sector in the state.

Efforts are also on to set up an international exhibition centre in Pampore, which would provide craftsmen a permanent venue to exhibit and sell their products.

Habibullah who had recently visited the valley said that the ministry was working along with the J&K chamber of commerce and industry to implement its initiatives.

"Since shortage of raw material is a serious constraint we will be setting up a yarn bank along with the KCCI which would be disbursed to the weavers of carpets, shawls etc," he said.

Funds would also be used to relocate the Craft Development Institute in Naushera and construct a new premises for an international institute of carpet technology.

The ministry also plans to set up craft service centres in different parts of the state, which would provide common facilities to craftsmen.

The cottage emporium in the state capital is also being revamped and would be completed soon.

The government had allocated Rs 70 crore (Rs 700 million) for the development of textile in the state during the 10th Five Year Plan period, which was later hiked to Rs 115 crore (Rs 1.15 billion) following an additional allocation of Rs 45 crore (Rs 450 million) during 2003-04.

Of the total allocation, Rs 32.6 crore (Rs 326 million) has been allocated to handicrafts, Rs 13 crore (Rs 130 million) to wool, Rs 17 crore (Rs 170 million) for handlooms and Rs 7.68 crore (Rs 76.8 million) for sericulture.

The government has already released Rs 19 crore (Rs 190 million) uptil March this year.

"We are also planning to set up a silk park in the district of Baramulla. Presently of the 800 tonnes of raw silk that is produced, the state consumes only 200 tonnes while the remaining 800 tonnes is sold to other states like Karnataka and West Bengal," he said adding that if the mulberry crop could be grown twice a year it would become viable for local farmers to switch to sericulture.