Srinagar gets Rs 15 cr IICT, CDI

Srinagar gets Rs 15 cr IICT, CDI
Another raw material bank on anvil
BILAL HUSSAIN
Srinagar, June 21: Union Minister for Textiles, Shankersinh Vaghela today inaugurated two premier institutions, Indian Institute of Carpet Technology and Craft Development Institute, both developed at a cost of Rs 15 crore. The two institutes at Bag-e-Ali Mardan here would serve as the hub to promote variety of handicraft activities for artisans, entrepreneurs, exporters and other stakeholders in the sector. Chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on the occasion said: “There are artisans in every nook and corner of the state who are dependent on the traditional handicraft sector in Kashmir and the two institutes would help them a great deal in their art and craft.” “The IICT, which has been set up at a total cost of Rs 5.45 crore,” Azad said, “would provide support to local carpet and allied industry through HRD, design creation development, and technical services to the industry.” CM said there are over 3.5 lakh artisans in the state. “Artisans should pass their art to their children but at the same time should provide them quality education,” he said. “It is indeed a matter of pride that soon this institute is likely to receive ISO certification,” the CM said. Azad urged for a mix of technology and craftsmanship to promote Kashmir handicrafts, adding that matching of the two would meet the global market demand of handicrafts products, both in design and quality The Chief Minister said that J&K annually produced handicrafts worth Rs. 1600 crore of which exports account for Rs. 1400 crore. He said the exports include Rs. 1200 crore worth carpets alone. He asked the artisans to increase the handicrafts exports to Rs. 2000 crore in next two years by applying modern technology made available by the newly set up institutes. The CDI, which has been set up at a total project cost of Rs 9.14 crore would provide research and development facilities in the field of managerial and process testing, filed studies, ecological issues, process related issues as per craft and subjects, geographical rights and IPR issues. In addition the CDI would provide off campus linkages for networking, cell extensions and income generation with IIT, IIM, agricultural universities, and NGOs. “We are going to launch another raw material bank in Srinagar. The project has been sanctioned in favor of J&K State Forest Corporation for firewood, khutmband craft at a cost of Rs 2 crore,” the CM said. The setting up of this raw material bank in this craft will ensure easy availability of quality, certified and graded raw material to the artisans at a reasonable rate. Minister of state for Industries and Commerce, Nawang Ringzin Jora, on the occasion said the J&K is an important manufacturing and export hub for the handicrafts producing diverse and intricately woven carpets, fine quality embroidered pashmina shawls, paper machie and wood carvings items. Vaghela said there is a huge demand for the handicraft world over and the Kashmir handicraft and handloom could cater to it. “We would increase the stipend of artisans by 50 per cent. We will extend our support in whatever way we could,” he said. To Azad’s request, the union minister for textiles said, “We would support the two institutes for next five years.”