SRINAGAR, AUGUST 19: The Department of Industries & Commerce has prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the implementation of Pashmina Development Project in the State.
This information was given at a meeting convened here today to review the progress of Pashmina Development Project. The meeting was chaired by Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Mr Shailendra Kumar.
The meeting was informed that the Government of India has sanctioned Rs 50 crore under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for development of Pashmina Craft in Jammu & Kashmir.
“The project aims to provide a holistic development of the world famous Pashmina shawl being produced in the State by undertaking a vertical integration of the Pashmina chain from production of raw Pashmina, manufacturing to marketing, certification, labeling and promotion of Pashmina goods,” the meeting was informed.
Improving the quantitative aspect of the Pashmina fiber, especially in terms of average fiber yield per animal, by distribution of high yielding goats amongst the rearers in Kargil and Leh would also be undertaken.
Efforts shall also be made to further popularize Pashmina goat rearing in non-traditional areas having climatic conditions conducive for rearing of Pashmina goat. Further, in order to increase the production of raw Pashmina by at least 10 ton, high Pashmina yielding goats would also be distributed under this project.
Further, the Government has also proposed Minimum Support Price (MSP) Programme for procurement of raw Pashmina to encourage Pashmina goat rearing activity under the said project.
Skill and capacity up-gradation of the artisans, manufacturers associated with the Pashmina craft will also be focused upon. Keeping in view of the need to develop products which are in vogue, the project has also kept a provision for Design Development and Product Diversification.
The meeting was told that a Common Facility Center (CFC) for dehairing of Pashmina, dyeing, drying, washing and calendaring of Pashmina fabrics is being developed at Government Woolen Mills, Bemina, Srinagar to further improve the quality of Pashmina goods being produced.
The augmentation of existing Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC) located at Craft Development Institute, (CDI) Nowshera, Srinagar into a Centre of Excellence has been proposed for testing and labeling of Pashmina and Pashmina blends which will be undertaken at a large scale under the project. The Centre would also be upgraded to a Product Information and Design Resource Centre where information about latest design trends and fashions would be made available to the Pashmina Craft Industry.
Promotion of Pashmina labeled products as authentic and genuine through various print and electronic media, providing market linkages to the artisans/ manufacturers and strengthening of State Handicraft and Handloom Development Corporations have also been proposed in the project.
The department of Industries & Commerce has already decided to tie up the artisans of the State directly with the E-Commerce giants of the country.
In this behalf, more than two thousand artisans and weavers have been registered and seller codes have been generated in favour of many artisans for which department of Handicrafts is facilitating their current bank account numbers, TIN numbers and PAN numbers.
By availing this facility an artisan can market and sell his product directly from his work place without the involvement of any middleman. Payments generated via this mode will be credited in the accounts of the artisans directly.
Another project for the artisans that is being funded by the World Bank is the creation of the E-Commerce websites. That project will be implemented through the Handicrafts Corporation of the State at an estimated cost of Rs. 5.5 crores.
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