PULWAMA: The Handicraft and Handloom department, Pulwama, today organised an awareness camp cum registration mela for artisans at Abhama, here.
Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Director (AD) Handicrafts/ Handloom Pulwama, Mohammad Yaseen Bhat laid stress on the importance of Handicrafts and Handloom in generation of livelihood with minimum financial support needed for the establishment of the unit.
He raised awareness among artisans about various schemes launched by the department and emphasized on reaping benefits of the schemes of the Govt.
The AD Handicrafts/Handloom said that the main objective/aim of these Camps is to register each and every artisan/weaver with the department and make them eligible for earning the benefits of these schemes as instructed by Director Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir in his maiden meeting with District Officers of the department.
He promised to reach out to each and every village of the district and specifically to far flung areas of the district where these types of Camps shall be organised at regular intervals of the year.
More than 40 artisans/weavers of village Abhama and its adjacent areas viz. Sangerwani, Baghander, Nichadigen, Draklaran participated in the Camp.
He said under various components of Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme infrastructural support, market access, design and technology up-gradation and training to handicrafts artisans is being provided to assist them to set up income generating units with modern infrastructure.
Bhat said that the Government is taking various measures to promote all forms of Handicrafts. It is the endeavour of the Government to identify each Artisan and issue Artisan Cards to them so that they are entitled to different Welfare schemes and programmes of the Government, he added.
Field Officers (HTO/AHTOs) of the department were present on the occasion, besides a multitude of artisans participated in the camp.
Artisan Registration Cards were also distributed among the artisans. A couple of Cooperative Societies were also proposed to be formed in the area.

KR Desk