Srinagar, Aug 12: National Handloom Day was today celebrated by NABARD in a programme organised in Srinagar. Tariq Ahmad Zargar, Director, Handicrafts and Handlooms, Kashmir was the chief guest while Zubair Ahmad Mir, Director, IICT Srinagar was the guest of honour on the occasion. Many artisans from various OFPOs and SHG groups participated in the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Surinder Singh, DGM NABARD, highlighted the importance of celebrating the National Handloom Day and stressed for converging the efforts towards modernization of the sector. He highlighted efforts made by NABARD in promoting handloom sector in Kashmir, through Off Farm Producer Organisations (OFPOs), Rural Marts, Exhibitions and Melas.
Tariq Ahmad Zargar, Director, Handicrafts and Handlooms, Kashmir in his address highlighted the challenges in handloom sector and efforts made by the department to address these challenges. He called upon the artisans to take benefit of Government sponsored schemes so that the maximum profit is fetched by the primary artisans.
Zubair Ahmad Mir, Director IICT lauded the efforts of NABARD in the promotion of OFPOs and said that such OFPOs should become a role model for promotion of further OFPOs in the region.
Dr. Asif Bhat, DDM, NABARD gave detailed presentation on Handloom sector and NABARD’s interventions for the development of the sector in Kashmir. Abdul Majeed Bhat, Lead District Manager Srinagar appraised the participants about various credit schemes available for artisans. Based on the feedback received from artisan groups, a detailed discussion was held on the issues and challenges of the handloom sector in the region and a future roadmap for its development.