Union Textiles Secretary Launches Steel Looms, Pledges Support for Kashmiri Handicrafts

SRINAGAR: Union Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao on Wednesday said the Centre is committed to reviving Kashmir’s centuries-old carpet weaving tradition, as she rolled out Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms for artisans at the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) campus in Srinagar.

Rao, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles and the Union Territory administration, said the initiative under the Integrated Wool Development Programme (IWDP) is aimed at empowering artisans, modernising tools and enhancing global appeal of Kashmiri carpets.

Encouraging the Jammu and Kashmir Government to submit more proposals to the ministry, Rao stressed on upgrading testing and certification facilities and blending traditional motifs with contemporary designs. “I have come from Delhi with a team of senior officers to gain firsthand insight into new benchmarks that will strengthen backward and forward linkages in the craft sector,” she said.

Earlier, the Union Secretary inspected training programmes, the design studio, and the NABL-accredited laboratory at IICT. She also visited the Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre, assuring support for state-of-the-art equipment to safeguard authenticity of Kashmiri Pashmina and allied crafts.

During her visit, Rao interacted with Padma Shri and National Award-winning artisans, including Ghulam Hassan Khan (Patchwork Jamawar), Ghulam Nabi Dar (Wood Carving) and Farooq Ahmad Mir (Kani Shawl), along with young entrepreneurs such as Shahnawaz Carpets and Beenish Crewel Toys.

Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms were distributed among artisan clusters from Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Kulgam and Srinagar. Rao also assured consideration of a proposal for procuring an additional 500 looms for wider distribution.

The event was attended by senior officials, including Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Vikramjit Singh, Joint Secretary Ministry of Textiles Padmini Singla, and Director Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir Mussrat Islam.