‘Save artisans, protect heritage, secure livelihoods’
SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Traders & Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) has extended full and unwavering support to the Kashmir Copper Association in its demand for an immediate and complete ban on machine-made copper items in Jammu & Kashmir.
The KTMF Management, including Chairman Haji Mushtaq Ahmed Darial, General Secretary M Altafdar Rajbagh, Treasurer Showkat Ahmed Bhat, along with senior trade leaders Farooq Ahmed Batqoo, Haji Mushtaq Ahmed Saghar, Bashir Ahmed Siraj, Ghulam Rasool Shah, Haji Nissar Ahmed Mir (Downtown), Sheikh Hilal, Mushtaq Ahmed Degloo, Sardar Surjeet Singh, Popinder Singh, S. A. Rashid, Mohammad Shafi Wani, and others, expressed deep concern over the unchecked influx of machine-manufactured copper products in local markets.
In a statement issued here, they said that factory-made items pose a severe threat to Kashmir’s centuries-old copper craft and jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of artisans, workers, and labourers who depend on this traditional handmade industry.
General Secretary KTMF M AltafdarRajbagh emphasized that Kashmiri copperware is far more than a business—it is an identity, a cultural legacy, and an art form passed down through generations.
Allowing mass-produced machine-made products to dominate the market not only dilutes this heritage but also pushes highly skilled artisans to the edge of extinction.
Chairman Haji Mushtaq Ahmed Darial added that protecting the artisan community is a collective responsibility, and the government must intervene with a comprehensive policy to ensure that authentic handmade copper products are preserved, promoted, and safeguarded for future generations.
KTMF urges the government to take enforce a complete ban on machine-made copper items across Jammu & Kashmir; strengthen market inspections to stop the sale of counterfeit and factory-made copperware; provide financial assistance, training, and global marketing support to local artisans; and recognize copper artisans as heritage craft workers and extend all welfare schemes and social protections to them.
KTMF senior leaders, including Farooq Ahmed Batqoo and others, reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Kashmir’s artisan community until their craft, dignity, and livelihoods are fully protected.“Protecting artisans means protecting Kashmir’s identity.”