‘Target set at ₹1500 Crore for FY25’
Wajahat Shabir
Srinagar: Kashmir’s rich tradition of handicrafts is witnessing a powerful revival, with exports surging by 146% in the first quarter of FY25—from ₹126 crore last year to ₹310 crore this year.
This remarkable growth has encouraged the Department of Handloom and Handicrafts Kashmir to set an ambitious export target of ₹1500 crore by the end of the financial year.
Director Masrat Ul Islam, in an exclusive conversation with The News Now, outlined how a series of policy reforms, upgraded infrastructure, and artisan welfare schemes are helping transform the sector and secure the livelihoods of thousands of craftsmen across the Union Territory.
He noted that the department has introduced new craft villages, export hubs, and direct market linkages to promote artisan work globally. Kanihama continues to thrive as a model craft village, and a new ₹10 crore project at Sunap in Beerwah—home to 22 national award-winning artisans—has been approved. Another site at Hardu Akad near Pahalgam is also in the pipeline.
The Craft Safari Network under the UNESCO Crafts City initiative is taking tourists directly to artisan clusters—from downtown Srinagar’s paper mâché and sozni artisans to Bandipora’s tweed and carpet weavers—creating direct exposure and market access for local craftspeople.
Exhibitions have also received a formal boost, with the Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) now serving as the nodal agency for events across India and abroad. Although some local exhibitions were disrupted—such as the one planned at Kashmir Haat in April—the department is continuing with new infrastructure development and strategic planning to widen artisan reach.
Several key welfare measures are also underway. These include doubling the artisan credit limit from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh, launching a ₹1 lakh non-refundable grant for Self-Help Groups and cooperatives, and rolling out education allowance schemes for artisans’ children. Under the Mudra scheme, artisans are being offered easy loans for working capital.
Masrat also revealed that Kashmir is being positioned as a global craft and export hub, with land identified and funding set aside for infrastructure under the CAPEX budget. Efforts are also being made to build mentorship networks by linking national awardees with emerging artisans.
With the numbers already showing a dramatic rise, the department is confident that the momentum will continue. “We’re witnessing a clear shift. Our aim is not only to protect traditional crafts but also to elevate them to niche international markets,” Masrat said. “With ₹310 crore already achieved, we’re hopeful of comfortably surpassing our ₹1500 crore export goal this year.”
