Govt extends 10% rebate to woollen yarn purchase

Union Minister for Textiles K S Rao today extended 10 per cent rebate on yarn purchase, which was only available for handicraft sector, to purchase of woollen yarn as well to promote handloom sector in the country.
"We announce 10 percent rebate on purchase of yarn, which was only available for handicrafts sector shall be now available on purchase of woollen yarn also so as to promote handloom sector in the country," Rao said here today.
He said that need of the hour was to make these handicraft market driven conforming to the fast changing consumer tastes and liking.
He said constant design development and skill upgradation will go a long way in this regard adding that Central Government's wholehearted financial and technical support would be available to the State for the purpose.

Speaking at the inaugural session of 2-days workshop and interactive session for development and promotion of handicraft of Jammu and Kashmir at J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute, the Minister said that design development and quality improvement of handicrafts was imperative to upgrade living standard of artisans even though traditional handicrafts of Jammu and Kashmir are always in high demand in the oversees countries.
The Union Minister urged for devising new strategies to explore all possible export channels adding that there is vast market for handicraft in the foreign countries. He said export of handicraft from India has increased to Rs 4.3 billion this year against Rs 3.3 billion mark during the last fiscal.

He said artisans should grab this export potential keeping in view very high wage rate per hour in the developed countries. He said availability of funds shall not be any constraint in promotion of handicraft and its export from Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Centre was open with positive frame of mind to improve the lot of artisans adding that National Centre for Design and Product Development (NCDPD) has been setup to update the handicrafts sector about the changing global scenario with reference to technical advancement.
Responding to the demand of handloom weavers, the Union Minister announced that 10% rebate on purchase of yarn, which was only available for handicrafts sector shall be now available on purchase of woollen yarn also so as to promote handloom sector in the country.

The Union Secretary for Textiles, Zohra Chatterji said that handicraft sector is a major source of livelihood, adding that the need of the hour is to bring product diversification in it.