Ten more handloom clusters sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir

New Delhi, July 11 : Textiles Minister Shankersinh Vaghela today said that the Government is working to promote the activities of Handicrafts and Handloom Exports Corporation of India Ltd. (HHEC) and has sanctioned ten more clusters of handlooms for Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting, Vaghela said that the HHEC is running a number of activities to provide support to artisans and weavers for the upgradation of their skills, design inputs, training and marketing their products.

More than ten thousand weavers are getting direct and indirect employment through the activities of HHEC. The Corporation has 21 procurement centers all over the country to help and provide technical support to the grass root weavers.

Reiterating the Government's commitment for marketing support to the artisans, the Minister said that the Central Cottage Industries Corporation (CCIC) does procurement and sales of quality handicrafts and handloom products not only for the domestic market but also for abroad.

It has also opened showrooms to showcase traditional art culture. He said the CCIC always lays emphasis in supporting artisan and has made efforts to eliminate middlemen in the process of marketing of handlooms.

Briefing the members about the National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum (NHHM), also known as Crafts Museum at Delhi, he said that the Museum has a collection of over 32,000 artifacts consisting of metal icon, lamps, incense burners and ritual accessories.

The Library of the Museum has more than 20,000 reference books and other periodicals.

ANI