Director Handicraft and Handloom chairs Quality Control Council meeting

Srinagar: A meeting of Handicrafts Quality Control Council of Handicrafts & Handloom department Kashmir was held today at Kashmir Haat, Srinagar which was chaired by Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Director Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by other members comprising Zubair Ahmad Director IICT, Dr. Yasir Ahmad Mir Facility CDI, Rouf Ahmad Punjabi, Sheikh Ashiq, & Shahid Kamili all members of the Quality Control Council , Peerzada Qousar Hussain Legal Advisor, and representatives from the Quality Control Division.

Speaking on the occasion, the Director Handicrafts & Handloom elaborated the agenda of the meeting, particularly in context of misbranding of Kashmir Handicrafts and the sale of fake machine made lookalikes in the name of Kashmir Art & Crafts. This practice, he said, has led to the marginalization of the artisans

The members suggested the enforcement of the Handicrafts Quality Control Act in letter and spirit, and mandatory labeling of all the Handicraft items, besides G.I Labeling of Hand Made Kashmir products.

The participants suggested constitution of Special Committee for providing valuable inputs, measures and mechanism to be adopted for effective enforcement of Handicrafts Quality Control Act.

It was decided that an aggressive campaign through print and electronic media needs to be launched for awareness of general public regarding G.I certification. It was also suggested to advise the Handicraft outlets across the UT to distinctly brand products which are machine made and those which are handmade .It was also decided to mobilize the quality Control wing of the department for effective implantation of the Act across the entire length of the UT.