SRINAGAR, JANUARY 31 : The Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir has strongly refuted certain portions of a news story published in a Local daily newspaper with headline – ‘The Art Will Die with Us’: Srinagar’s papier mache craftsmen battle extinction.
In a press release issued here today, a spokesman of the Department countered the claims made by Nasir Ahmad Mir, a papier mache craftsman, who was interviewed by a reporter for the news story published on 29.01.2026 of the said newspaper.
Giving details, the spokesperson stated that the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, has 19 training centres across Kashmir Division, imparting hands-on training in papier mache craft to around 400 artisans in elementary and advance training courses every year. “The Department has trained as many as 8,102 new papier mache artisans across the valley, who have taken the unique craft forward and carved out a niche for themselves,” he said, adding that a large number of papier mache artisans are still in the unorganised sector, who are being registered so that they can avail the benefits of various flagship schemes of the Government.
In order to promote and encourage artisans in papier mache craft, as many as 25 master craftsmen have been conferred with UT Awards over the last 10 years. “Apart from this, J&K has been made proud by papier mache craft maestros like Fayaz Ahmad Jan and Iqbal Hussain Khan, who have been conferred with Padma Shri & Shilp Guru awards respectively in recognition of their contribution in promotion of the craft,” he added.
Referring to the Department’s initiative of Know Your Artisan, under its Soulful Kashmir brand promotion, campaign, the spokesman said that special representation is made for papier mache craft, which remains the most popular, along with walnut wood carving, in the non-textile craft sector.
Apart from this, the spokesman added that a large number of papier mache artisans are recommended to JKTPO for participation in various J&K and national trade fairs, including IITF at Bharat Mandapam, Suraj Kund Mela in Haryana, Gandhi Shilp Bazaar and other high-profile events.
Dwelling upon the export potential of papier mache products, the spokesman stated that in the last 10 years, artefacts worth ₹212.06 Cr have been exported to outside destinations from Kashmir. “These figures remain the highest in respect of non-textile crafts in Kashmir Division,” he added.
In order to ensure the transition of skill from the master to the budding artisans, the Department has instituted a flagship Karkhandar Scheme in the department. “The scheme focuses on preserving traditional crafts such as papier mache, walnut wood carving, silver filigree, carpet weaving, Kani shawl weaving, Khatamband, and others like Sozni, tapestry, and engraved copperware,” he added.
Identifying the uniqueness of papier mache craft, both in sakhta and naqashi, the Department has obtained a GI registration for papier mache crafts from GI registry Chennai. “Authorised GI users can avail the facility of testing and QR Code based labelling at PTQCC, CDI, Srinagar, which shall go a long way in penetrating newer markets both within and outside the country.
