Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday reviewed measures aimed at strengthening Jammu and Kashmir’s handicrafts and handloom sector, directing authorities to expand skill-based courses, improve traceability of Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products and explore technology-driven systems for fair wage assessment of artisans.
At a review meeting attended by senior officials of the Industries and Commerce Department, the Jammu and Kashmir Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Srinagar, Craft Development Institute and Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Dulloo assessed progress on infrastructure, quality certification, market access and artisan welfare initiatives.
He directed the department to expedite completion of ongoing projects, including craft villages, Common Facility Centres (CFCs), wool processing units and testing facilities in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions. He stressed the need to strengthen quality testing, certification and GI-tagging mechanisms to enhance the credibility of local products.
The Chief Secretary also called for the introduction of vocational, diploma and certificate courses at NIFT Srinagar to improve access to skill development opportunities and support the preservation of traditional crafts.
Emphasising the importance of authenticity in GI-tagged products, Dulloo directed officials to establish a robust traceability mechanism and maintain records of GI-certified products being manufactured and marketed. He also suggested exploring Internet of Things (IoT)-based technology to assess the time and effort involved in producing handicraft items, saying it could help ensure fair remuneration for artisans.
During the meeting, Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Vikramjit Singh informed that handicraft exports reached ₹817.39 crore during 2025-26, while exports worth ₹73.85 crore had already been recorded during the first quarter of the current financial year.
Officials said 4,61,381 artisans and weavers have been registered across Jammu and Kashmir, with another 13,264 registrations completed this year, including 7,919 in Kashmir and 5,345 in Jammu.
The meeting was informed that under the Credit Card Scheme for Artisans and Weavers, beneficiaries can avail credit support of up to ₹2 lakh with a 7 per cent interest subvention for five years. During the current financial year, 2,750 cases have been sponsored and loans worth ₹868.60 lakh disbursed so far.
Officials said 56 per cent of identified artisans have already been covered under credit schemes, while the remaining beneficiaries are being targeted for financial inclusion. Integration with J&K Bank’s systems and Aadhaar seeding is also being undertaken to streamline subsidy delivery.
The review also covered progress on infrastructure projects. At Sonpah Craft Village in Budgam, a land transfer order has been issued and ₹4.50 crore released against the total project cost of ₹10 crore.
The Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre has been upgraded with advanced testing equipment, increasing testing capacity nearly threefold and reducing waiting periods to 30-45 days. Throughput has increased to 120-140 tests per day, officials said.
In Jammu division, three Common Facility Centres for bamboo diversification and agarbatti manufacturing have been completed at Sallan, Sumb and Billawar at a combined cost of over ₹9.6 crore.
The meeting was informed that Jammu and Kashmir now has 63 GI-registered crafts — 39 from Kashmir and 24 from Jammu. A total of 97,178 GI labels have been issued so far, including 14,714 during the current financial year.
Officials said IICT Srinagar has GI-tagged and QR-code labelled 22,500 carpets to improve authentication and traceability. Proposals for six additional crafts from Kashmir and ten from Jammu are also under consideration for GI registration.
The department further informed that 1,871 artisans and weavers have been onboarded onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), enabling wider market access.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed progress on the proposed PM Ekta Mall at Rail Head, Jammu, and the PM Unity Mall at Kashmir Haat, Srinagar, which are expected to provide dedicated marketing platforms for handicrafts and handloom products. He said investments in infrastructure, quality certification, credit support, skill development and digital marketing should ultimately translate into higher and sustainable incomes for artisans while preserving J&K’s traditional craft heritage.
