The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Sept 11: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has extended a warm welcome to the inauguration of the Animal Fibre Quality Assurance Laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama Campus. The Chamber also appreciated the distribution of Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms among artisan clusters across several districts of the Valley by the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT).
KCCI described the newly inaugurated laboratory as a landmark intervention for Kashmir’s globally renowned Pashmina sector. It said the state-of-the-art facility will serve as a critical institution to safeguard the purity, authenticity, and sanctity of Pashmina, which has for centuries been celebrated as the “gold standard” of India’s natural fibres. By enabling scientific testing and certification, the lab will not only protect artisans and genuine stakeholders from the menace of imitation products but also boost consumer confidence in both domestic and international markets.
On the distribution of Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms, KCCI noted that artisan clusters from Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Kulgam, and Srinagar have been identified as beneficiaries. The Chamber underlined that the upgraded looms are expected to significantly enhance productivity, improve weaving precision, and create safer and more comfortable working conditions for artisans who have long relied on outdated traditional looms. Such technological upgradation, it said, is essential for preserving the global reputation of Kashmiri carpets and making the craft more attractive to the younger generation.
KCCI recalled that earlier distributions of modern looms by IICT had already yielded positive results for artisan families by increasing efficiency, reducing physical strain, and improving the overall quality of finished products. The Chamber said the continuity of this scheme highlights a consistent and practical approach to modernizing the craft sector.
During the event, Union Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao assured that the proposal submitted by the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, for the procurement of 500 additional looms is under active consideration. KCCI welcomed this assurance but stressed the urgent need to scale up the initiative so that a wider section of artisan communities across the Valley can benefit. It urged the government to sanction more modern looms at the earliest, thereby directly enhancing artisan incomes and safeguarding the future of this centuries-old heritage industry.
KCCI placed on record its appreciation for the proactive role of Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Vikramjit Singh; Director, Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir, Mussrat Islam; and Director IICT, Zubair Ahmad, whose efforts reflect a sincere commitment to strengthening Kashmir’s artisan-driven economy.
Reaffirming its role as a key stakeholder in the preservation and promotion of Kashmir’s handicraft sector, KCCI expressed hope that these initiatives will be supplemented with long-term institutional support, including research and development, artisan welfare measures, advanced skill development programmes, and stronger international market linkages.
