President, KCC&I Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad raised the problems by the faced by manufacturers and artisans dealing with handicrafts. Post August, 2019 this sector suffered huge losses and being highly labour intensive sector, the Artisans were the main sufferers. To mitigate the sufferings of artisans and weavers, he stressed upon the need to extend benefits to this sector on the lines of Government constituted Constructive Workers Development Board and recognising Artisans an weavers under the category of skill labour. The President also urged the Government for creating Handicraft Export Promotion Council. It was also suggested that Handicrafts, Manufacturers and Artisans be recognised as MSME units on the pattern of Orissa Government MSME (Handicraft) Policy.
Exporters & Manufacturers of Handicraft products raised the issue of lack of marketing support from the Government and not declaring handicraft units as MSME units. They suggested the urgent need of intervention by the Government to purchase stocks from post August, 2019 & post Lockdown period to mitigate the suffering and revival of Handicraft activity. Stocks worth more than Rs 500 Crores were reportedly lying unsold in the Handicrafts sector and Governmental intervention for lifting them was demanded. Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad stated that this issue would be taken up with the Hon’ble Lt Governor, Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary Finance to find a way of unburdening the stakeholders.
The stakeholders stated that they faced problems in domestic and international exhibitions regarding allotment of spaces. They demanded that the Government should allot spaces to the KCC&I who would further facilitate their participation. Representatives of Papier Machie Artisans sought their involvement in Papier Machie work allotted by the Government especially at religious places. The Chamber stressed the need of creating self help groups/societies with adequate Financial Assistance from the Government for upliftment of Handicraft Sector. The Stakeholders stated that charging of GST on handicrafts had adversely affected production and marketing of this sector.
Director, Handcrafts & Handloom, Mr. Masrat-Ul –Islam expressed his view on evolving mechanism for obtaining Udyog Adhar Card for facilitating Handicraft producers to qualify as MSME Units with involvement of Administration. He also raised necessity of establishing craft development parks to promote world famous Kashmiri Craft. For promotion of marketing of Handicraft Products he informed to provide stalls in exhibitions by the Department. On the request of Chamber he assured to allot Sixty Eight stalls to Handicraft Manufactures and artisans in the exhibition at nominal rates. He also mentioned about Karkhandar Scheme for promotion of Kashmir Handicraft.
Mr. Mehmood Shah informed the stakeholders that with new classification of MSME, maximum units shall come under category of MSME including handicraft units and what is needed is registration under Udyog Adhaar Card. He also asked stakeholders to get involved in establishing Common Facility Centres for different Handicraft products.
The participants were briefed about the various schemes and measures undertaken by the Government for the Handicrafts Sector.
Mr. Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad laid stress on conducting awareness programmes and thanked Mr. Mehmood Shah, and Mr. Masrat-Ul–Islam and other participants for their valuable inputs and hoped that the issues raised in the meeting would be followed-up with desired results.
