KL Report
Jammu
Minister of state for Industries and Commerce, Law, Tourism and R&B, Sajad Ahmed Kichloo on Wednesday said that world famous handicrafts of the state have a vast scope to generate economy and employment.
Speaking to a group of artisans, which called on him at Civil Secretariat, Jammu, Kichloo said that the export of handicrafts from the state has touched a high of Rs 2282 crore by the end of November last fiscal adding that promotion of this heritage sector is in the main focus of the government planning.
Kichloo said, for the convenience and benefit of the artisans, the slab of Micro Credit for has been raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh without any mortgage and the interest subsidy has also been enhanced from 5 per cent to 10 per cent. He asked the artisans and weavers to take benefit of this credit facility, which is first of its kin, in the state. He said about 4300 weavers of the state are being imparted carpet weaving training under Skill Upgradation and Entrepreneurship Project sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Textiles at a cost of Rs. 5.87 crore.
Kichloo said a formal education programme- Masters in Craft Management and Entrepreneurship (MCME) has been introduced in Craft Development Institute (CDI) Srinagar which is recognized by the University of Kashmir.
He said MCME programme is, the first of its kind in the country, adding that this is a new beginning towards building a
technically sound professional human resource for the handicrafts sector. “Graduates of the MCME programme are expected to find rewarding career opportunities as trained craft entrepreneurs, craft managers, craft merchandisers and craft trainers, in private as well as govt. agencies,” he told artisans.
