Srinagar, March 1: A meeting of Handicrafts Quality Control Council was held at the Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom (Kashmir) today at Kashmir Haat, Srinagar, under the Chairmanship of Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Director Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir. The meeting was attended by the following members:
- Zubair Ahmad (Director IICT)
- Yasir Ahmad Mir (Faculity CDI)
- Rouf Ahmad Punjabi (Member Quality Control Council )
- SheikhAshiq (Member Quality Contror Council)
- ShahidKamili (Member Quality Control Council )
- Peerzada Qousar Hussain (Legal Advisor)
- Representative from Quality Control Division.
The chairman eloberated the agenda of the meeting, particularly in context with misbranding of Kashmir Handicrafts and the sale of fake machine made lookalikes in the name of Kashmir Art & Crafts. This practice has led to the marginalization of the artisians, an official told Ziraat Times.
The members suggested the enforcement of the Handicrafts Quality Control Act in letter and spirit, and mandatory labeling of all the Handicraft items, besides G.I Labeling of Hand Made Kashmir products.
The participants suggested constitution of Special Committee for providing valuable inputs, measures and mechanism to be adopted for effective enforcement of Handicrafts Quality Control Act.
It was decided that an aggressive campaign through print and electronic media needs to be launched for awareness of general public regarding G.I certification. It was also suggestedn to aware the Handicraft outlets across the UT to distinctly brand products like machine make and Handmade .It was also decided to mobilize the quality Control wing of the department for effective implantation of the Act across the entire length of the UT .