CM Omar promises action against machine-made Kashmiri carpets sold as handmade

Srinagar, Jul 24: Amid growing outrage over machine-made carpets being passed off as authentic Kashmiri handmade rugs, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday assured strong action against violators, stating that such practices are threatening the future of one of Kashmir’s most iconic crafts.

CM Omar took serious note of reports that counterfeit, power-loomed carpets are being sold to unsuspecting tourists as traditional hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets.

During a meeting held at the civil secretariat with a delegation of carpet manufacturers and exporters, he directed the Industries and Commerce Department to act firmly against showrooms and retail outlets involved in this malpractice.

“These fake carpets damage the global brand of Kashmiri handmade carpets and directly impact the thousands of artisan families who depend on this craft for their livelihood,” the CM is reported to have said during the meeting.

The urgency of the matter heightened after the Handicrafts and Handloom Department recently sealed a carpet showroom in Tangmarg for allegedly selling a machine-made rug worth Rs 2.55 lakh as a Kashmiri handmade carpet, complete with a fake QR code certification.

Sheikh Ashiq, who led the delegation, said the CM assured them of decisive action.

“The CM gave us a patient hearing and was fully aware of the damage this malpractice is causing to Kashmir’s handmade carpet sector,” he said. “He assured us that the government will act firmly and swiftly against those indulging in fraudulent sales.”

Ashiq also urged the CM to promote Kashmiri handicrafts wherever the J&K government participates in tourism events across the country and abroad.

“We are not only known for our landscapes but also our rich and intricate crafts. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous traders are working to defame them,” he said.

The delegation asked for the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom to be given stronger enforcement powers to crackdown on showrooms mislabeling machine-made items as handmade shawls or carpets.

They also submitted a detailed memorandum, warning that the unchecked circulation of machine-made rugs, often imported, was rapidly undermining the credibility and survival of the handmade carpet industry in Kashmir.

“Our handmade carpets represent the essence of Kashmir’s cultural identity,” Ashiq said. “When imported or factory-made rugs are sold under our name using fake certification, it not only cheats customers but pushes thousands of artisans closer to economic ruin.”

The delegation demanded that machine-made carpets be banned from being sold or displayed in showrooms registered under handicraft or handloom categories.

They also called for mandatory signage clearly stating whether a carpet is handmade, and proposed the formation of a joint enforcement task force including both government officials and industry representatives.

The task force would be responsible for inspecting showrooms, monitoring sales, and initiating legal proceedings against offenders.

Additionally, the industry has sought tighter control over imports and higher tariffs on foreign machine-made carpets, particularly those rebranded and sold as Kashmiri in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Goa.

“This is a fight for survival,” said Farooq Ahmad Shah. “If the government doesn’t act now, we are looking at the slow death of one of Kashmir’s most cherished crafts.”

The group included Faiz Nissar, in charge of the Carpet Export Promotion Council’s Srinagar office; Firdous Ahmad and Fayaz Ahmad Wani of the Kashmir Carpet Cluster Development Organisation; Ghulam Nabi Dar of MEERAS Carpet Weavers Cooperative Ltd and Farooq Ahmad Shah, General Secretary of the Kashmir Carpet Manufacturers Association.