Srinagar: The viral video showing a “distressed” carpet weaver burning a carpet is fake; as the carpet that featured in the video was already damaged in an incident of fire in January this year.
They did not say it as clearly, but this is exactly what the Department of Handicrafts and Handlooms Kashmir meant when it shared reports of its inspection team that was deputed to Bandipora on Sunday to ascertain the veracity of the “distressed artisan” featuring in the viral video.
The department clarified that the “distressed” carpet weaver from Ashtangoo, Bandipora is actually beneficiary of government schemes.
Taking cognizance of the viral video circulating on social media wherein a carpet weaver — Mohammad Maqbool Dar from Ashtangoo,Bandipora — was found burning a carpet the Department of Handicrafts and Handlooms deputed a team early today (Nov 20, 2022) to ascertain the factual position, an official press release informed.
It said the inspection team, which also included representatives from the Kashmir Arts Emporium for the purpose of purchasing carpets from the said artisan to relieve his distress, found that there was no inventory of carpets with the concerned person, the press release said.
“It was also noticed by the team that the carpet which was shown being burnt in the video had already been damaged in the alleged fire incident in January 2022 and was not a fresh carpet, as claimed by him in the video,” the press release said.
It said during the inspection, it was revealed that the Department of Handicrafts and Handlooms Kashmir has, through Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), already extended necessary support to the Delight Industrial Cooperative being headed by Mohammad Maqbool Dar.
The IICT has provided his cooperative five modern carpet looms, 10 sitting benches, working tools, 20 solar lanterns, silk yarn worth Rs 3 lakhs along with computerized carpet designs absolutely free of cost under a Centrally-sponsored scheme.
“Besides the person in question has also been paid an amount of Rs 50,000 from time to time by the IICT under the same scheme for monitoring and supervising the work of the Industrial Cooperative. The Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms Kashmir has also given him ample opportunities in various exhibitions conducted from time to time,” the press release informed.
It clarified that the department has taken many steps such as GI tagging of carpets, fixation of minimum support price for carpets, financial assistance to registered industrial cooperatives, artisan credit cards, etc., for the development of the sector and many more initiatives are in offing.
