Centre Sanctions Rs 51 Lakh for 100 Modified Looms Under Wool Processing Scheme

SRINAGAR: The Union Ministry of Textiles has approved Rs 51 lakh for the procurement and distribution of 100 additional looms under the ‘Wool Processing Scheme’ of the Central Wool Development Board, officials said on Wednesday.

Each loom, costing Rs 51,000, has been specially designed by the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Srinagar, featuring a back-rest and comfortable seating arrangement to address health concerns of weavers who spend long hours creating hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets.

Director IICT Srinagar, Zubair Ahmad, expressed gratitude to the Ministry for sanctioning the Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms for active weavers in the financial year 2025-26. He noted that the first tranche of Rs 30.60 lakh has already been released for loom procurement, and subsequent instalments will follow once utilisation certificates are issued.

The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, has urged interested carpet weavers to approach the offices of Assistant Director Handicrafts/Handloom in the Kashmir Division to complete the necessary formalities for receiving the looms.