SRINAGAR: The Union Ministry of Textiles has sanctioned Rs 14.90 lakh for two training programmes aimed at reviving the traditional crafts of Glazed Pottery and Copperware in Kashmir, the Handicrafts and Handloom Department said on Tuesday.
The funds have been sanctioned to the Craft Development Institute (CDI), Srinagar, under the Guru Shishya Hastshilp component of the National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP).
According to the department, Rs 7.45 lakh each has been approved for training artisans in Glazed Pottery in clusters of Baramulla district and Copperware in Srinagar district.
Each programme will run for two months and train 30 artisans under the supervision of master craftsmen. The training will cover wage compensation for participating artisans, honorariums for master craftsmen, venue rent, training equipment and compensation for raw materials.
The department said the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) approved its proposal for customised training programmes to help revive the two crafts, which have seen a decline in recent decades.
Glazed Pottery, traditionally used for household vessels, decorative tiles, kangris and ceremonial articles, has faced competition from cheaper plastic, aluminium and machine-made products, resulting in a sharp reduction in the number of practising artisans.
Copperware, locally known as Kandkaari, is among Kashmir’s oldest metal crafts and has a strong association with the Shehr-e-Khaas. The craft has also come under pressure from inexpensive imitations and a shrinking artisan base.
The programmes will follow the traditional Guru-Shishya model, through which experienced craftsmen train a new generation in techniques passed down through successive generations.
The department said the initiative is intended both to strengthen the skills of existing artisans and create a new pool of trained practitioners in the two traditional crafts.
