Two recent skilling initiatives by MSDE have started bearing fruits as skilled craftsmen from Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland showcase their rich heritage and traditional handicraft in the 53rd edition of IHGF Delhi Fair in the National Capital Region.
It was observed that the heritage and traditional skill clusters required skilled artisans from villages to meet the demand for traditional crafts in Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir. The Handicrafts Sector provides employment to a vast segment of population settled in rural and semi-urban areas, generating substantial foreign exchange for the country while preserving its cultural heritage. The handicraft and handloom sector in India was valued at Rs. 25,706.3 crore and contributed nearly Rs 126 billion toward the country’s GDP. Two projects were launched in Jammu and Kashmir, namely — (i) Revival of Namda craft of Kashmir as a special pilot project under PMKVY 3.0 and (ii) upskilling of artisans and weavers of Kashmir under RPL. The objective of the pilot project was to upskill the local cane and bamboo artisans to enhance their productivity through RPL assessment and certification in traditional handicrafts.
Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “am confident that this effort will increase skills and technical knowledge among local artisans and help them sustain a decent livelihood.”