JAMMU: Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Jammu on Wednesday organized a 15-day “UT level Handloom Expo” here in the Jammu Haat. The expo will showcase the exquisite art & craft of Jammu Division.
The Expo is being held under the Guidance of Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce Department, Prashant Goyal, and sponsored by the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, GoI under National Handloom Development Programme.
The Handloom Expo was inaugurated by Samita Sethi , Secretary in Industries & Commerce Department along with Director Handicrafts & Handloom Jammu, Dr Vikas Gupta .
Samita Sethi, Secretary in Industries & Commerce Department along with other officers of Handicrafts & Handloom department, Jammu took round of all stalls and enquired about the exhibits created by local artisans and weavers. She expressed that the expo will give artisans, weavers and cooperative societies a suitable marketing platform to sell their genuine products directly to the buyers and provide the tourists and locals an opportunity to get a glimpse of the rich art and craft of Jammu Division. She appealed to people to visit the expo site and support the local artisans and weavers by purchasing local handmade products.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director Handicrafts & Handloom, Jammu listed the endeavours being made by the department this year to give fillip to Handicrafts and Handloom Sector.
Nearly, 35000 Artisans/Weavers are registered with the Department and 4017 more trainees are undergoing skill development training through 202 (Handicrafts=160, Handloom=42) departmental training centres to contribute to the Workforce. Over 2400 craftsmen were sponsored by the department this year under Credit Card Scheme & Weaver Mudra Scheme to various financial institutions for meeting out their working capital requirement.
For reviving languishing crafts & promoting entrepreneurship around 20 Karkhandar units under different crafts viz. Basohli Paintings, Pashmina, Wheat straw craft, weaving etc were sanctioned by the department under the Kharkhandar scheme this year.
Around 120 Handicrafts/Handloom cooperatives were formed by the department under a financial support scheme for cooperatives of handicrafts and handloom sector. This will enable these cooperatives to receive grant- in- aid of Rs 1 lakh each.
To widen the base of the craftsmen community in the Jammu division the department has registered over 3000 craftsmen this year. This will enable these artisans and weavers to avail benefits of the different schemes being sponsored by the department.
The event witnessed participation of over 60 registered Cooperatives/weavers associated with Handloom Sector including 05 from Kashmir province, one each stall from JKI, Handicrafts & Handloom Corporation, J&K & Weaver Service Centre, Srinagar were also on display.
The event was organized with the message of “Vocal for Local’ which will greatly support local weavers in terms of both promotion and livelihood.

KR Desk