Srinagar: The YANA Initiative of the KCC&I Relief Trust yesterday undertook a distribution program of foodkits in IICT Grounds for the stakeholders of the handicrafts sector including artisans and weavers of Srinagar City. The program was jointly presided over by Zubair Ahmad Mir, Director IICT and Abdul Hamid Punjabi, Trustee of the KCC&I Relief Trust, Javed Ahmad Tenga, Past President KCC&I and Ghulam Nabi Bhat from the handicrafts sector. Prominent stakeholders from the handicrafts sector also participated in the event.
The foodkits were handed over for distribution amongst the identified needy in their associations to the representatives of J&K Shahre Khas Artisans Union, Nawakadal Union, The Kashmir Papermachie Workers Union, Kashmir Pashmina Karigar Union, Nowhatta Union, Genuine Kashmir Cottage Handicrafts Protection Forum, Dangerpora Union, Kashmir Pashmina Union, Puiwean Association, Spinners and Sozni Group, Khandha and also to the needy recommended by the Al-Muanin (Helping Hand) organization.
In his welcome address, Nasir Hamid Khan, on behalf of the YANA Initiative thanked Mr Zubair Ahmad Mir, Director IICT and other distinguished members of the business community for their participation in the program. He informed the participants that the YANA Initiative has so far held distribution programs for the main economic sectors of Transport, Tourism and Handicrafts in Srinagar City and would now be moving towards the villages and towns of Kashmir. He said that the YANA Initiative was about brotherhood and he was personally witnessing moving examples of humanity like members of the Hanji and shikarawalla community stepping forward to share their bread with the needy in the handicrafts sector, despite themselves having depleted resources.
Zubair Ahmad Mir, Director IICT stated that it was an appreciable gesture by the business community appreciated the gesture of the business community in stepping forward in support of the underprivileged persons of the economy who were undergoing very difficult times. He said that the handicraft sector had been crippled due to the prolonged loss of overseas orders and domestic recession which had created unimaginable miseries for our artisans and weavers. He assured the participants of all support in this regard.
Abdul Hamid Punjabi stated that the KCC&I Relief Trust was thankful to the business community for contributing towards this cause of assuring the underprivileged persons connected with trade, commerce and industry that they were being thought about and cared for by the whole society. He expressed happiness at the fulfilment of the KCC&I Relief Trust’s sole objective of providing assistance to the weaker sections of our society.
On behalf of the artisans and weavers groups, Hakim Ghulam Mohammed President J&K Shahre Khas Artisans Union and Tariq Ahmad Zaz of Kashmir Pashmina Karigar Union thanked the members of the KCC&I, The KCC&I Relief Trust and the business community for coming out to share their burden.
