Handicraft is on verge of becoming part-time activity: J&K CM

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today asked University of Kashmir to conceive a model institute in the skill development after expressing concern over the dwindling interest of young artisans in the handicraft industry.
"Handicraft is threatening to become a part-time activity because of diminishing returns. If anyone has given us global identity, it is our handicraft.
"We face the challenge of reviving this activity, for which skill development institutes can play a pivotal role in craft entrepreneurship," Sayeed said after inaugurating the Science and Technology Block of the College of Engineering at Zakura Campus, here.
He said the Kashmir University needs to conceive a model institute in skill development.

"This is the handicraft industry which sustained the state's economy during difficult times," he said and cited the example of countries like Germany, which have taken a lead in the field of skill development.
Describing universities as caretaker of state's greatest asset, the Chief Minister urged upon the premier institutes to fully utilize the financial assistance and grants provided by MHRD under various Central schemes, in particular those provided for development of infrastructure in offsite campuses.
"The institutes of higher learning should take a leaf out of benchmark universities and restructure its teacher-student ratio so that individual attention is paid to low-performing students," he said.

Sayeed asked the policy makers to shift gear and link education with employability and also called for broadening the scope of academic activities at North and South Campuses of the University of Kashmir at Baramulla and Anantnag so that they serve as full-fledged centres of higher learning.