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| Azad, Joshi launch nationwide SFURTI scheme from Srinagar | | Marketing plazas to promote rural handicrafts | | Srinagar, September 19- The Central Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will set up two marketing plazas in Jammu & Kashmir to provide better marketing facilities to rural artisans in the State.
Announcing this, Chairperson of the Commission and former Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Ms. Kumud Joshi said that one plaza each would be set up at Srinagar and Jammu.
Joshi who along with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad launched SFURTI, a nation wide scheme for augmenting socio-economic conditions for rural artisans and employment opportunities, from here today, made the announcement in response to the suggestion of Mr. Azad who asked for Khadi Plazas to afford marketing facilities to the artisans of Jammu & Kashmir.
The Chairperson KVIC also announced setting up of three clusters at Ajas, Safapora and Sumbal blocks in Kashmir to declare the launch of the SFURTI scheme under which cluster of traditional industries would be developed besides replacement of tools and equipment and common facility services, facilitating advanced technologies and establishing market intelligence.
On the request of the Chief Minister, Ms Joshi assured more clusters for Jammu & Kashmir so that at least two are set up in each of the three regions of the State. She asked J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board to prepare a project under SFURTI for exploitation of berry juice in Ladakh region.
Earlier, the Chief Minister referred to the abundant availability of berry in the region and its underutilization. He said that of the 15000 metric tonnes availability, only 100 metric tones were utilized for production of Leh Berry juice popular all over the country. He stressed the need to bring this activity under village industry to generate employment for local people.
Joshi said that the Commission will send trainers to the State for upgrading skills of local rural artisans. She also announced their visits to different states like Gujarat and Maharashtra to introduce them to developments in rural handicrafts. She said the Commission is involving IITs to bring technical innovations in rural handicrafts, saying innovations and improvements are necessary to remain in the market in the age of globalization.
“The Commission and the State Government will have to work together to bring smile on the faces of rural artisans”, Ms. Joshi said, adding that she would go to any length to help the rural artisans of J&K improve their economic condition including advocating their case with the central government and the Planning Commission.
In his address, the Chief Minister called for a symbiosis between the skills of local artisans and modern technology to increase marketability of local handicraft products. He said there is need to have a combination of man and machine to bring quality excellence and design improvement.
The Chief Minister highlighted the requirement to tap foreign market, especially the Gulf for handicraft products of the State. He complimented the local artisans for producing masterpieces of handicrafts, saying they have earned name for the State world over. He said during the turmoil in Kashmir the handicrafts kept the economy going and it is necessary that this sector is helped to grow and improve. He asked the artisans to pay more attention towards quality than quantity for earning better dividends.
Azad asked for a North-East pattern package for development of rural handicrafts in the State arguing that Jammu & Kashmir and Northern States were similarly placed in matters of geographic conditions and consequent difficulties. He also demanded increase in finances for various schemes funded by KVIC on soft interest rate. He also called for setting up of multi-disciplinary training centre for artisans to upgrade their skills. He urged the KVIC to extend its full support to the efforts of the State government in bringing out Jammu & Kashmir from difficulty and usher it into a prosperous and economically sound situation.
The Chief Minister expressed happiness on the launching of SFURTI scheme in Kashmir and said that throughout the country Jammu & Kashmir offered best possibilities of development of handicrafts. He said cluster development would make monitoring of the scheme easy.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister was informed about signing of a memorandum of understanding for export of Kashmiri handicrafts to France.
The Chief Minister and Ms Joshi released Village Industries Directory published by J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board and distributed rebate claim cheques, tool kits and sewing machines among artisans. The Chief Minister also inaugurated an exhibition of rural handicrafts at the SKICC.
Earlier, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Mangat Ram Sharma, Minister of State for Industries & Commerce, Dr. Romesh Chander Sharma, Members, KVIC, G. N. Naik and Ram Das Sharma and CEO, KVIC, J. S. Mishra also spoke on the occasion
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