SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has reported Rs 793.23 lakh in sales from participation in 11 national trade fairs during 2024-25, as part of a wider push to strengthen self-employment and market access for artisans and weavers across the Union Territory. The data was shared in response to a question tabled by Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah in the Legislative Assembly.
According to the Industries and Commerce Department, 310 exhibitors from JK participated in national-level events in 2024-25, generating 9,770 business leads and total sales of Rs 793.23 lakh. In 2025-26 so far, six such events have recorded sales of Rs 520.74 lakh and generated 3,407 leads.
The government said it has framed the Wool Processing, Handloom and Handicrafts Policy 2020 and is implementing multiple schemes to promote self-employment, skill development and financial inclusion among traditional occupational groups.
Under its training programme, 559 elementary and advanced training centres are currently functional across the UT, with 10,334 trainees undergoing skill development in various crafts.
The Credit Card Scheme for Artisans and Weavers 2020 provides a credit facility of Rs 2 lakh, including Rs 0.20 lakh as margin money, with 7 per cent interest subvention for five years. In 2024-25, 1,110 cases were sponsored, 497 sanctioned, and 403 beneficiaries received disbursements amounting to Rs 528.19 lakh. In 2025-26 so far, Rs 172.66 lakh has been disbursed to 135 beneficiaries.
Under the Financial Support Scheme for Cooperatives in Handicrafts and Handloom Department 2020, registered cooperatives and self-help groups receive Rs 1 lakh in two equal instalments over two years. In 2024-25, 440 cooperatives were registered and Rs 378 lakh disbursed. In 2025-26, 361 cooperatives have been registered with Rs 219 lakh disbursed, taking the total disbursement over two years to Rs 597 lakh.
The Karkhandar Scheme 2021, aimed at skill upgradation and productivity enhancement, provides a stipend of Rs 2,000 per month to ex-trainees for six months and raw material support of Rs 25,000 per unit. In 2024-25, 32 karkhanas were established with Rs 71.53 lakh disbursed. In 2025-26, 45 units have been set up so far, with Rs 90.71 lakh disbursed and 492 trainees trained.
The Weavers MUDRA Scheme, introduced in 2013-14, offers concessional credit at 6 per cent interest with interest subsidy and credit guarantee coverage for three years.
Under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, bank loans of up to Rs 50 lakh for manufacturing and Rs 20 lakh for service sector projects are provided with a margin money subsidy ranging from 15 to 35 per cent. Employment envisaged under the scheme stood at 48,157 in 2024-25 and 31,898 in 2025-26 as on January 31, 2026.
Similarly, under the JK Rural Employment Generation Programme, employment generation stood at 5,820 in 2024-25 and 2,568 in 2025-26 so far.
On marketing support, the department said it is organising and participating in exhibitions, craft bazaars and buyer-seller meets within and outside JK to enable direct sales and reduce middleman interference. During 2024-25, the department organised four trade fairs, generating Rs 184 lakh in sales and 904 leads. In 2025-26, 106 such events have generated Rs 189.19 lakh in sales and 2,202 leads.
The government also highlighted Geographical Indication certification measures. Eighteen crafts from JK have been GI tagged, while 19 more are proposed for registration. A total of 1,999 authorised users have been registered and 34,223 QR-coded labels issued over the last two years to curb counterfeit products and ensure fair value to genuine artisans.
To expand digital market access, export awareness workshops-cum-e-commerce onboarding drives were conducted in 2025-26, with participation from over 1,400 sellers, artisans, and farmer-producer organisations. Artisans have been encouraged to register on platforms such as Amazon Karigar, Flipkart Samarth and Government e-Marketplace.
Under the PM Vishwakarma initiative, 4,50,259 applications were received across Jammu and Kashmir, with 4,27,914 onboarded, reflecting an onboarding percentage of 99.72 per cent. A total of 1,21,791 candidates have been trained, 14,359 loans sanctioned and 9,336 disbursed.
The government stated that there are no separate self-employment schemes exclusively for artisans in rural, border or far-flung areas. However, it said that district-wise targets, decentralised implementation, online applications, local training programmes, special enrolment drives, and awareness camps are being used to ensure an equitable regional distribution of benefits.
The department added that field staff conduct village visits and set up information stalls during public outreach programmes to assist artisans in availing scheme benefits.
