Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 12: NABARD Jammu and Kashmir Regional office observed the National Handloom Day today.
Industries and Commerce, Govt. of J&K was the Chief Guest of the occasion while Vikas Gupta, Director, Handicrafts & Handloom, Jammu was the Special Guest of the occasion.
Surender Singh, General Manager, NABARD welcomed the dignitaries to the programme. Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood, Chief General Manager, NABARD, recognized the contribution of handloom weavers and their efforts in upkeep of our rich heritage, contribution to economy as well as providing employment to a large population in rural India. Shri Sood highlighted the efforts made by NABARD in promoting handloom sector in J&K, through OFPOs, Mini-OFPOs, Rural Marts, GI Registration, Exhibitions and Melas. Anamika, DGM, NABARD gave a detailed presentation on Handloom sector and NABARD’s interventions for the development of the sector in UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
This was followed by a presentation on the success story of Sehar Carpet Producers Company Limited, an Off Farm Producers Organization supported by NABARD in Baramulla and also the catalogue of products of Sehar Carpet producers Company Limited was launched by the Chief Guest. Prominent weavers from J&K and Ladakh were felicitated for their outstanding contribution to the Handloom Sector. Thereafter there was an elaborate discussion on the issues and challenges of handloom sector and a future roadmap for the development of this sector.
Chief Guest Ranjan Prakash Thakur, in his address, highlighted the need for the revival and modernization of the handloom sector and stressed on the importance of providing marketing linkages to handloom products. He also urged the weavers to adapt to the changing needs and demands of the market.
National Handloom Day was also observed in the handloom clusters of Baramulla, Anantnag, Budgam, Kathua and Samba by NABARD in collaboration with the district officials of Handicrafts and handloom department. |
