Srinagar: Expressing serious concern over the misbranding of machine made embroidered shawls as Kashmiri, the traders Tuesday demanded enactment of law banning its use.
In a statement to Press Bureau of India, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a meeting regarding the threat being posed to the Handmade Kashmiri Shawls and Stoles sector by the misbranding of machine made products.
The meeting, presided over by Vice President, KCC&I Abdul Hamid Punjabi, observed that large population of artisans spread across all the districts of Kashmir Valley were earning their livelihood from this age old heritage craft. The
“Sale of machine made embroidered shawls and stoles of other places like China and Amritsar has created a great set back for the hand made products of Kashmir,” the statement added.
The Shawls Makers Association had previously met the Minister for Industries and Commerce requesting him to enact a law banning the use of machine in making the embroidered shawls and stoles in Kashmir.
The statement said that the meeting concluded with a note that the participants would create awareness amongst the traders of this craft so that a coordinated effort was made to impress upon the Government to enact a law prohibiting use of machine in this handicraft.
Simultaneously, the meeting resolved that the traders, who are reportedly producing and selling machine made shawls and Stoles, should be made aware of their responsibility towards the poor artisans besides curbing the sale of machine made shawls and stoles in the name of Kashmiri embroidered handicraft products in domestic and foreign markets.
“It has also been reported that some unscrupulous traders are making these embroidered shawls and stoles in Kashmir by engaging the workers from outside state or resorting to manufacturing of these products outside the State which has jeopardized this age-old craft of Kashmir,” the statement said. While advising such traders to desist from such activities, the trader’s body has convened separate meeting for the identification of such traders of Kashmir who are trading in machine made embroidered Shawls, Stoles and selling them as handmade products. (PBI)
Posted on 16 Mar 2010 by
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