SRINAGAR, APRIL 09 – Following GI registration of 8 more crafts, the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, today felicitated Wirasat, the proprietor registered with GI Registry, Chennai, set up for administration of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 Wirasat holds right of GI tagging for 7 new products, except Kashmir Willow Bat, registered in the GI Registry.
The function was presided over by Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, Mussarat Islam, in presence of Deputy Director (Quality Control), Mirza Shahid Ali, senior representatives of Wirasat Society and other officers of the department.
During the course of the function, Director Handicrafts and Handloom, impressed upon Wirasat to encourage artisans and weavers to register with their organization so that more hand-made products are tested and certified in the Quality Control Lab of the department. He also urged upon the members of Wirasat to take affirmative steps for converting their Society into a Producer Company, so that they entail the benefits of various flagship schemes notified by the Government.
Assuring Wirasat of handholding at every step, the Director highlighted the role of Ministry of MSME’s new RAMP Programme that envisages rapid acceleration of stakeholder performance in I&C sector, including handicrafts and handloom.
“The department will financially support all Proprietor Societies in their conversion into Producer Companies under RAMP. It shall also hold capacity building programmes to motivate artisans and business stakeholders to vouch for brand promotion and packaging to upscale their products in niche markets,” he added.
The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom sought support in further strengthening the counter measures against the threat posed by machine-made and largely unlabelled items, which are sold by certain unscrupulous persons in the name of Kashmir Handicrafts. “The department has already invoked the strictest clauses against dealers who are engaged in duping buyers by selling them counterfeit products in the name of genuine hand-made,” Director stated.
