Handicrafts sector witnessed revolution in last 5 years: LG

Budgam, June 6: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Thursday said that the handicrafts and handloom sector had witnessed a revolution in the last 5 years.

Inaugurating the two-day annual youth festival of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) ‘SPECTRUM-24’ at NIFT campus at Ompora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, the LG said, “Our handloom and handicrafts sector has undergone a major revolution in the last 4 to 5 years. Students of NIFT can play a decisive role in design development and positioning of handloom and handicraft products.”

Congratulating the NIFT Srinagar for providing opportunities to the students of educational institutions of Kashmir to explore their hidden talents in performing arts, sports, fashion shows, and literary programmes, he said, “Our youth power is building a prosperous future of J&K. Youth are our biggest strength and they are committed to taking J&K to greater heights.”

LG Sinha said that the two-day festival was also an opportunity for youth to exchange innovative and creative ideas for promoting our rich cultural and artistic heritage.

He commended the contribution of NIFT Srinagar in the area of design development, positioning of handlooms and handicrafts, and providing new career avenues to the aspiring youth of J&K in fashion, design, and management.

The LG advised the students to get themselves acquainted with the precious handicraft tradition of Jammu and Kashmir so that they can assist the Handicrafts Department in brand positioning and to incubate new ideas in different product categories.

He also talked about the policy reforms introduced by the J&K administration to transform the handicraft and handloom sector.

“In June 2023, the administration notified 32 new crafts and at present the total number of registered crafts has increased to 60. It is also being ensured that every handicraft artist and weaver gets the benefit of GI certification, testing, labelling and training,” LG Sinha said.

He called upon NIFT students and faculty members to support artisans in brand positioning, product designing, and packaging.

The LG also highlighted the important role of academic institutions in establishing India as a knowledge economy.

He said that the higher education sector in J&K was going through reformative changes.

“Institutions like NIFT should also make the necessary reforms, aligned with NEP 2020, to meet the future needs of the market,” LG Sinha said.

This year’s NIFT youth festival has been organised under the theme of ‘Rangreza’ in which more than 600 students will participate in 24 events like Best Out of Waste, Mural Art, Frame within the Frame, Battle of Bands, Mental Marathon, and Open Mic.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri; Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Vikramjit Singh; Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Akshay Labroo and Director NIFT Srinagar, Javid Ahmad Wani were also present on the occasion.