Reviving traditional craft: MSDE launches pilot projects for artisans, weavers
SRINAGAR: Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Saturday launched two ambitious projects; ‘Revival of Namda craft of Kashmir as a special pilot project under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 3.0’ and ‘Upskilling of artisans and weavers of Kashmir under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), component of PMKVY’.
The objective of these projects is to boost and preserve the traditional Namda craft of Kashmir and upskill the local weavers and artisans of the UT to enhance their productivity through RPL assessment and certification. The Namda project will benefit 2,250 people of 30 Namda Clusters from 6 districts of Kashmir including Srinagar, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam and Anantnag while RPL initiative targets to upskill 10,900 artisans and weavers of J&K.
Pertinently, Namda craft is a rug made of sheep wool through felting technique instead of normal weaving process. Due to low availability of raw material, lack of skilled manpower and marketing techniques, the export of this craft has declined almost 100 percent between 1998 and 2008. Therefore, through this special project under PMKVY, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has designed short-term training curriculum to preserve this endangered craft.
The Namda project will be an industry-based training program with beneficiaries involved in Namda Crafts Production who will contribute towards preserving and reviving the rich heritage associated with the unique craft in Kashmir. This will also improve the access of existing artisans of Namda crafts cluster in Kashmir besides enhancing their prospects of employability.
Launching the initiative, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said “India has a rich heritage and is home to several traditional art forms. It is an article of faith for the Modi Government to revive and promote traditional and heritage skills of artisans and weavers of J&K thus empowering them economically and socially as well. Not only that, we should strive to offer them exposure to the international markets so that the world becomes aware of our vibrant culture.
‘When I travelled to Jammu and Kashmir, people of J&K sought support to boost the local economy through customised skill training programmes. This prompted the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to come up with this programme in a bid to meet the economic aspirations of the local youth and take them on the path of development. I am confident that with the local industry coming on board with us, we will be able to increase the carpet exports from 600 crore to 6000 crore and create employment for 8 lakh people’, he maintained.
He asserted, “The programme will also focus on continuously skilling, upskilling and reskilling local youth to create a ladder of career progression and make them strong pillars of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. “The Government is working with a laser focus towards J&K’s development and is delivering on all its promises” said Rajeev Chandrasekhar. He appreciated the efforts of officials at MSDE, National Skill Development Corporation and Sector Skill Councils as this custom designed programme was conceptualised, processed and sanctioned within a record time of just 2 months. The custom designed programme is symbolic of the New Approach which the Government is mulling for its skill development programme. It is based on the principle of continuous skilling, upskilling, re-skilling and employment as an assured outcome, industry as an important stakeholder in skill training ecosystem.
Union Secretary, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajesh Aggarwal, said “Our team at the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is working with new zeal on this special project. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has designed a short-term training curriculum to preserve Namda and I am confident that we will not only be able to revive this endangered craft, but also make it economically viable and generate jobs to help local artisans. This project is an endeavour to uplift the tribal community and preserve the heritage and we will ensure that it is being implemented diligently.
He said that the upskilling project under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is expected to improve the competencies of the unorganized workforce of the Handicrafts and Carpet sector. The artisans and weavers shall be aligned to the standardized NSQF (National Skills Qualifications Framework). It will also improve the access of existing artisans and weavers to sustainable livelihoods and lead to increased skills and technical knowledge among them. Additionally, the pilot project will enhance the marketing skills and techniques that will promote traditional and local crafts by artisans and weavers, he said adding that it will help them in making designs to match the current market demand. The initiative will be a value addition to the traditional handicraft products through Upskilling Bridge Module and Government of India certification. He informed that the training delivery partners for the upskilling initiative are Mir handicraft, Srinagar Carpet Training and Market Centre and there is special value addition for 10% high performers.
Pertinently, the entire programme will be implemented in different phases, which included Selection of Artisans and Weavers, Training of Trainers (ToT) and Upskilling of Artisans and Weavers through RPL with Bridge Module.
Authorities appeal masses to get 2nd jab of COVID- 19 vaccines
KV News Network
SRINAGAR: In view of recent resurgence of Covid-19 cases in Kashmir, after 2nd wave of Covid 19 Pandemic; the Divisional Covid Control Room Kashmir (DCCRK) Saturday appealed general public to strictly adhere to Covid Appropriate Behaviour and related SOPs to prevent further spread of coronavirus and break the chain.
The DCCRK which runs under the aegis of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole has asked people to follow CAB along with all the SOPs laid down in the guidelines of management for Covid-19 in letter and spirit as virus is still circulating around us and has every chance of getting serious mutation anytime.
As per an official statement issued here, the DCCRK stressed upon general public not to lower guard and desist from showing any complacency to CAB at this point of time when there are reports coming from the global data that a new Covid-19 variant of concern B.1.1.529 with a large number of mutations has hit hardest in Africa and has led to tenfold increase in the number of cases there since the beginning of this month.
It was given out that resorting to lackadaisical attitude vis-à-vis adherence to CAB; related SOPs can prove detrimental in our hard fought efforts of mitigation and control process in the previous waves.
The DCCRK has also advised people going out for their routine work to bring behavioral change in themselves by wearing tightfisted facemasks every time, practice hand washing when at workplaces or at any gathering, maintain physical distance of six feet all the time, avoid handshaking/ hugging between colleagues/ friends/ relatives as they are one of the important routes of contracting Covid-19 infection.
The DCCRK also appealed eligible target vaccination population, especially 18-44 age group to get themselves registered, and vaccinate for their 2nd dose against the Covid-19 virus as soon as possible so that it will further help break the chain of transmission in the community besides attaining some sort of herd immunity in near future.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Administration Kashmir has advised the general public to follow the directions and advisories of their respective District Commissioners in letter and spirit, so that we are able to come out of this phase of darkness to see the rise of a new dawn.
