Crackdown on fake handicrafts rekindles hope for Kashmir’s artisans

Srinagar, Aug 1: A sweeping crackdown on machine-made goods falsely sold as handmade Kashmiri crafts has sparked renewed hope among thousands of artisans in the Valley, many of whom have long felt abandoned by a market tilted in favour of mass production.

The Jammu and Kashmir government this week launched an aggressive inspection drive targeting registered handicraft showrooms suspected of selling factory-made items under the guise of traditional craftsmanship. Acting on Order No. DHHK/QCD/2996.59 issued on July 29, the Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom has asked its district officers to coordinate with the Quality Control Division to ensure only genuine handmade products—like Pashmina, Sozni, Kani shawls and walnut woodwork—are sold at approved outlets.

For artisans like Shabir Ahmad Dar, a Sozni worker from Budgam, the government’s move has arrived late but is welcome. “I don’t work on the loom anymore—I work in a workplace now, stitching clothes in a boutique just to feed my family. The market is flooded with fake machine work that looks like Sozni. Buyers don’t ask questions, and dealers don’t care.”

Dar says that just a few years ago, he employed four young artisans in his karkhana. “Now no one wants to join. Who wants to sit for days and earn Rs 300 or Rs 400, when a casual labourer makes Rs 700 a day?”

The story is the same across craft clusters in the Valley. A vast majority of artisans say their traditional skills have been rendered economically unviable due to the unchecked entry of imitation goods, often sold at high prices backed by fake quality tags or QR stickers. A recent case in which a tourist was duped into buying a machine-made carpet for Rs 2.5 lakh has only added to the urgency.

“Handicrafts are labour-intensive. If a Pashmina shawl is sold for Rs 10,000, at least Rs 8,000 is supposed to be the artisan’s share,” said an official at the Handicrafts Department. “But the machine-made goods eat up that value, and in turn, destroy the credibility of the whole craft.”

Muhammad Amin, a woodcarver from downtown Srinagar, echoed this frustration. “We spend hours chiselling wood, but people can’t tell the difference between our work and what comes out of a laser machine. Some dealers even mix both on one piece. How can we survive in this dishonesty?”

With over 4.5 lakh artisans registered in Jammu and Kashmir, the stakes are high. The handicraft sector not only defines Kashmir’s cultural identity but also earns over Rs 733 crore annually in foreign exchange. Officials say protecting the sector is no longer a matter of policy—it is a matter of survival.

“This is not just about sales,” said a senior official. “It’s about trust, heritage, and the dignity of labour. Our artisans deserve better.”

The department has also issued a public advisory via social media urging buyers to report suspicious products:

“Dear buyers, CONTACT Dept of Handicrafts & Handloom on 0194-2472065 OR [dir.handicraft@jk.gov.in](mailto:dir.handicraft@jk.gov.in), if you have slight SUSPICION on having been sold a machine-made item in garb of #Kashmir Handicrafts. We promise action.”

While some artisans remain sceptical, others say the move may at least help rebuild confidence in genuine Kashmiri crafts.

“I don’t know if things will change overnight,” said Amin, “but if the government really means business this time, maybe my son won’t have to drive a cab to survive.”