| Pragati Maidan turns battle ground | | Artisans allege corruption, officials deny | | Sumit Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 16: Jammu and Kashmir Handicrafts department is in news for wrong reasons as its officials have reportedly closed down a stall of artisans from the Jammu region at the 35th edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The IITF was inaugurated on Nov 14, Over 7,000 domestic and foreign firms from 28 countries are participating in the fair.
JK artisans and the officials locking horns with each other has become talk of the town as both sides have levelled serious allegations against each other attracting the attention of the other competitors of the states and customers as well.
The artisans from Jammu who were allotted a stall at JK Pavilion levelled allegations of corruption against the Joint Director and others , the charge vehemently denied by the officials. The allegations and counter allegations started when a Jammu based embroidery stall was forcefully closed down by the JK Handlooms employees. The lady artisans, Thakurals alleged that their stall was closed as they refused to pay an amount of Rs one lakh to the JK Handlooms officers, adding, the lady officer earlier started harassing them on different pretexts and finally demanded Rs one lakh and later Rs 50,000 from them. "We are registered artisans and are allowed to sell embroidery products but the officers were demanding bribe from us to lets continue", Thakurals alleged, "We have taken huge loans for the products and we are not in a position to grease the palms of the officials".
However, Director Handicrafts Gazanfar Ali when contacted said that the stall was shut as the ladies were selling Kashmiri products in Jammu stall, adding, even they sold the stall to some Kashmiri artisans for Rs 50,000.
The much-awaited India's largest fair is annually is organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). The event is held from Nov 14 to Nov 27, every year at Pragati Maidan. IITF serves as a global platform for exhibitors from around the world to showcase their goods and culture.
Pertinently, The Secretary Industries and Commerce, R. K. Bhagat on Saturday inaugurated the Jammu and Kashmir Pavilion at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi in which 30 JK Government Departments and Corporations including the department of Information, Tourism, Horticulture, Handicrafts, Handloom Development Corporation and organizations including Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Federation of Chamber of Industries Kashmir have set up their stalls to showcase their products of the Jammu and Kashmir. |
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