KVIB to promote textile industry in J&K

The board proposes to set up common facility centres in pockets of the region to empower and facilitate the rural artisans and craftsmen.

It has also started skill upgrade courses for the artisans and the KVIB experts have started organising camps for the skill enhancement in various pockets.

"As part of its renewed strategy, the board organised similar camps in the Bani and Loang area of Basohli in district Kathua, where a large number of rural people are engaged with the traditional textile industry for decades. The people have even established small units on their own premises," KVIB CEO R C Sharma told BS.

 

Artisans from the Basohli area of Kathua area are known for skills in weaving Pashmina shawls. The Kashmiri shawl manufacturers provide raw material to these artisans and they produce goods for them.

After finishing the same by the Kashmiris, the Pashmina shawls are sold in the market and send outside the state.

"Under the Rural Employment Generation programme of the government of India many entrepreneurs of this Basohali sub-division have set up their own units," Sharma said. About 12 to 18 persons majority of them being women are engaged in this activity.

In a remote Bani block and adjoining Bhaderwah, where people tame sheep, the KVIB has decided to promote woollen knitting, blanket weaving and traditional textile industry.

Basically, this is an attempt for the revival of this traditional art, which is dying. Not only this, the board is also providing modern looms to the weavers.

"In this sector, over 36,000 units are running and the board has taken initiatives like product developing, quality improvement and providing marketing linkage in order to increase the wages of the workers. This would also ensure that quality products are produced according to market demand," Sharma said.

He said the board had registered production worth Rs 423 crore. Exports in the last financial year were worth Rs 450 crore.