Leh, Oct 6: In a landmark development for the Union Territory of Ladakh, the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) registration for Pashmina wool has now been officially awarded to the region.
Union Minister for Textiles, Giriraj Singh, presented the GI certificate to Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor, Dr. B. D. Mishra, during a ceremony at Raj Niwas in Leh.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister emphasized the government’s dedication to advancing development in Ladakh. He outlined various projects and initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of the people across the region. The recognition of Ladakh Pashmina under the GI tag is seen as a major step in maintaining the authenticity and high standards of the region’s renowned Pashmina wool.
“This recognition is not only a mark of authenticity but also a significant boost for the artisans and herders associated with Pashmina production,” Minister Singh said. He added that the government’s initiatives, including the GI tag, would provide lasting benefits to the local economy.
GI tag for Kashmir-made Pashmina Shawls, labeled as Kashmir Pashmina, was Introduced in 2013-14.
The products, for which raw wool is obtained from Ladakh, saw GI labels increasing from 175 labels in 2014 to 5,430 in 2022-2023. This Kashmir Pashmina labeling, coupled by the GI labeling for Ladakh wool, is expected to bring more benefits for the artisan community by ensuring purity and discouragement of any counterfeit wool ingredients and Pashmina finished products in the markets.
According to Handicrafts & Handloom Dept figures, the past one year saw a significant increase to 13,974 GI labels. A total of 30,059 pashmina shawls have been tagged since 2014 as Kashmir Pashmina.
GI tagging has boosted exports of Kashmir made shawls as well, which have risen from ₹271.62 crore in 2019-2020 to ₹424.20 crore in 2022-2023. “In the current financial year, for three quarters, exports of ₹694.46 crore have already been clocked by Kashmir handicraft,” Mehmood Shah, Director Handicrafts and Handloom Department Kashmir is quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, an an ambitious move, the Union Textile Minister announced the government’s target to increase Ladakh’s population of Pashmina goats to 500,000 and Merino sheep to 1 million by 2030. This step is expected to ensure a sustainable supply of high-quality wool for the booming industry.
Several key dignitaries, including Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles Prajakta Verma, Secretary of the Textile Committee Kartikay Dhanda, and advisor to the LG Dr. Pawan Kotwal, were also present during the Leh handover event.
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