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| Govt contemplating to carry out crackdown on power looms, seize them | | Move welcomed by Pashmina weavers, spinners | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Sep 16: The state government is contemplating to carry out crackdown against power looms operating in the Kashmir valley more so in some of areas of downtown Srinagar. It is quite likely that these power looms would be seized in order to provide relief to the Pashmina weavers and spinners.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah has already issued a warning to the owners of power looms and asked them to desist from defaming the original Pashmina products of Kashmir. The action has been taken following consistent pleas from Pashmina weavers and spinners that their livelihood has been snatched following introduction of power looms.
Sources told Early Times that Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar while taking a strong note of misbranding of machine-made shawls with the hand-made Pashmina shawls has decided to crack whip on the power looms operating in the summer capital. The misbranding has brought havoc to this all important art and craft of Kashmir valley.
"A group of elderly women who used to spin the yarn knocked at the door of Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar and urged him to intervene so that there is some relief for them. He assured the elderly women that some action would be taken and it would be ensured that Pashmina retains its lost glory," said the sources.
Sources said that Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar is all set to convene a meeting of the different stake holders associated with the Pashmina trade. The sources added that stern warning would be issued to the owners of power looms and they would be asked to stop operating the power looms. If any person among them would not listen he would be taken to task and his power loom would be seized.
It would be in place to mention here that power looms have been permitted to make Raffal, Raffal Tosha and Silk shawls in Kashmir. However, over the years there has been an invasion of power looms and these are being used for making Pashmina shawls. These machine made shawls are sold in the name of original Pashmina shawls in the market and this has brought disrepute to the whole trade.
Pertinently, Pradesh Congress Committee President, Prof. Saif-ud-din Soz has been pitching for the ban on usage of power looms so that the Pashmina weavers and spinners are not rendered jobless. Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khanday in his recent meetings with the Pashmina weavers had assured them that their genuine concerns would be looked into and some solution would be found out.
Expressing his gratitude to PCC Chief Prof. Soz, Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday and Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Shah, Rauf Ahmad Qureshi, President Kashmir Pashmina Kaarigar Union said the positive development has come as a ray of hope both for the Pashmina weavers and spinners.
"A beginning has been made and hopefully many more positive steps would be taken in near future. Our special thanks go to Prof. Soz, Chief Secretary and Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar. This step has come as relief to the widows who used to spin the yarn used in making the Pashmina shawls," said Rauf. |
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