SRINAGAR – In order to upgrade the skill set of traditional Copperware Craft Artisans with innovative design techniques in sync with changing market demands and widening the ambit of market linkage to uplift their socio-economic conditions, a meeting of District Skill Development Committee was held under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad here today in the Meeting Hall of the DC Office Complex.
The meeting held a detailed deliberation with regard to the initiatives taken for the socio economic development of Copperware Artisans and rejuvenation of the craft. In addition, the meeting was told that Design innovation measures will be held in collaboration with the School of Design and Market Intervention will be undertaken with the Department of Handicrafts.
On the occasion, the Project “Traam” was initiated with the aim to increase the income levels of Copperware Artisans of Shahr e Khaas and uplift their socio-economic conditions, besides rejuvenate the traditional heritage Craft in the Shaher e Khaas of the District.
At the outset, the DC directed all the line departments to work in a well-knit strategy to promote the Project “Traam” and explore all opportunities so that people associated with Copperware manufacturing and copperware designing are benefitted from the Government schemes.
The DC asked the General Manager DIC to work out the plan for establishing a Copper Purity Testing Lab in Srinagar District to ensure fidelity of the utensils made of Copperware.
The DC also asked the Industries Department to identify space at Yatra Transit camp, Panthachowk for setting up of Copperware Stalls to facilitate visiting Yatries with sale of Copperware craft products.
While stressing on launching awareness among the Copperware Artisans regarding different Government schemes, the DC directed the concerned Departments to reach out to the target population of the District so that they are benefited from such schemes. He also asked the concerned Departments to hold interaction sessions with the Unions/people associated with the trade so that they are given first-hand information about the Government sponsored schemes besides are familiarised with modern market driven designing developments in line with traditional heritage and culture.
The DC further asked for registration of all people associated with the Manufacturing and designing(engraving) and submitting the database of the same at an earliest.
The DC further asked them to explore better market avenues at prominent religious/pilgrimage places and outside the Jammu and Kashmir, besides facilitating Sale-cum-Exhibition to uplift the living standards of the Artisans by improving the economic conditions.
The DC said Kashmir has one of the richest craft traditions, particularly the Srinagar City is hub of this centuries old rich craft culture which needs to be preserved and a dynamic link of the industry with the market has to be established.
Earlier, the Mahatma Gandhi National(MGN) Fellow, Srinagar, Syed Jaasirah gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation and elaborated on the on the Project “Traam”.
General Manager, DIC, Hameeda Akhtar, Deputy Director Employment, Rouf ul Rehman, Chief Planning Officer, Mohammad Yaseen Lone, Deputy Director Handicrafts, Mirza Shahid, Chief Education Officer, Manzoor Ahmad, Chief Designer, School of Design, Aamina Asad, LDM, Abdul Majeed, MGN Fellow, Syed Jaasirah and officers of other concerned Departments were present in the meeting.
