KCCI pushes for handicrafts revival in meet with Union Textile Minister

New Delhi, July 30: A delegation from the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), led by President Javid Ahmad Tenga, met with Giriraj Singh, Minister of Textiles, Government of India, at Udyog Bhawan today.

A statement issued by KCCI said that the meeting aimed to address critical issues facing Kashmir's handicraft sector, which provides livelihood to tens of thousands of artisans and weavers.

The KCCI delegation, including Treasurer Zubair Mahajan and Executive Committee Member Shaukat Khan, discussed several pressing matters. They emphasized the need for accreditation of the Pre-Export Pashmina DNA Testing Lab at SKUAST Srinagar with NABL and Wildlife Department. This accreditation would streamline export processes, preventing seizures and delays that often lead to order cancellations and reputational damage for exporters.

The delegation highlighted the issues with the current ROSCTL (Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies) scheme for woollen and Pashmina shawls. They pointed out that the existing cap of Rs. 438 unfairly impacts high-value products, such as Pashmina shawls that can cost thousands or even lakhs of rupees. The KCCI proposed introducing a separate HSN code for value-added and Pashmina shawls to ensure appropriate export benefits.

Another key topic was the declaration of handicraft clusters in Kashmir districts. The KCCI cited the success of Kanihama village in Budgam District, which was declared a Handloom Village due to its dense production of Kani Shawls and Pashmina. They suggested similar recognition for the north belt of Kashmir, known for its handmade silk carpets, and other districts with substantial handicraft concentrations.

The delegation also proposed conducting market study tours to European, Middle Eastern, and US markets to promote exports of handicrafts and other sectors.

Minister Singh appreciated the concerns expressed by the KCCI and gave a positive response to their suggestions and demands. He assured that the issues would be resolved soon. The meeting concluded with President Tenga inviting the Minister to visit Kashmir for a handicrafts stakeholders event, an invitation which was accepted, the statement said.