SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has welcomed two key interventions aimed at strengthening Kashmir’s artisan economy — the inauguration of the Animal Fibre Quality Assurance Laboratory at SKUAST-Kashmir’s Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Shuhama, and the distribution of Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms among artisan clusters by the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT).
Calling the newly inaugurated lab a “landmark intervention” for the Valley’s famed Pashmina sector, KCCI said it would safeguard the purity and authenticity of the fibre, often referred to as the “gold standard” of India’s natural fibres. By enabling scientific testing and certification, the lab is expected to protect artisans from imitation products and boost consumer confidence in domestic and international markets.
On the loom distribution drive, the Chamber noted that artisan clusters in Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Kulgam, and Srinagar had benefitted from the upgraded technology. The new looms, it said, would enhance productivity, improve weaving precision, and provide artisans with better working conditions. Earlier distributions of similar looms had already demonstrated positive results by improving efficiency, reducing physical strain, and enhancing product quality.
KCCI also acknowledged Union Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao’s assurance that the proposal for procurement of 500 additional looms, submitted by the Department of Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir, is under active consideration. While welcoming the move, the Chamber urged the government to expand the programme to cover larger sections of the artisan community across the Valley.
The Chamber placed on record its appreciation for the efforts of Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Vikramjit Singh; Director, Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir, Mussrat Islam; and IICT Director, Zubair Ahmad. These initiatives, it said, reflect a serious commitment to modernising the sector and securing the livelihoods of artisan families.
Reiterating its role as a stakeholder in preserving and promoting Kashmir’s handicrafts, KCCI expressed hope that these initiatives will be followed by sustained institutional support through research, skill development, welfare measures, and stronger international market linkages.
