J&K KVIB organizes workshop under SFURTI Involvement of Women folk in traditional activities must be encouraged DDC

Nissar Shaheen :

Jammu and Kashmir Khadi and Village Industries Board (J&K KVIB) today organized one day
workshop under Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) in
collaboration with Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises at DC office Complex
Kupwara.
District Development Commissioner Kupwara-Mr Khalid Jehangir was the chief guest on the
occasion, while as board member-Madam Masrat Kar and Secretary/Chief Executive Officer
J&K KVIB-Mr Rashid Ahmad Qadri were the guest of honours.
Expressing gratitude to J&K KVIB for organizing division level workshop in Kupwara, DDC-
Khalid Jehangir while speaking on the occasion said that this workshop will provide an impetus
to traditional artisans, who have been preserving Kashmir’s identity since ages.
“This interactive session will open up new dimensions of employment for the youth,” he said and
added that in this direction J&K KVIB has been working in a focused manner.
DDC asserted that the educated unemployed youth in Kupwara has talent and passion to work,
the need is to impart proper expert guidance.
“There is a huge potential in Kupwara and all we need to do is to tap this potential to produce
quality entrepreneurs,” said DDC, adding that women folk has huge stakes in traditional
activities and their involvement must be encouraged.
Speaking on the occasion, board member-Masrat Kar said that she is happy to see participation
of women in traditional activities.
“I am thankful to Secretary/CEO and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of J&K KVIB for their
efforts in making programmes pertaining to public awareness a successful event,” said Masrat
Kar, adding that she is impressed with the establishment of three clusters in Kashmir and
requested J&K KVIB for establishing more clusters in other districts of the State for involvement
of artisans.
She also suggested the Chief Executive Officer of J&K KVIB to involve local designers in
various skill development activities.
While briefing about the purpose of workshop, Secretary/CEO-Rashid Ahmad Qadri said that
J&K KVIB was established to plan, promote and organize Khadi industries.
“With the passage of time market demands have changed, so does strategies to sale, but our
artisans are still carrying on with an obsolete process of marketing,” said CEO, adding, “To
overcome these limitations, Government of India has launched cluster-based Scheme of Fund for
Regeneration of Traditional Industries and selected J&K KVIB as Nodal Agency for Jammu and
Kashmir State.”
He informed that six clusters have been approved till date and three of them are in an advanced
stage and will be launched soon. J&K KVIB is also mulling to establish cluster in Kupwara, as it
has been identified as ‘Aspirational District’.
“The main purpose of the SFURTI is to rejuvenate the traditional industries and make it more
sustainable,” CEO said before presenting a powerpoint presentation to aware participants about
the SFURTI and its implementation.
Earlier, DyCEO-Muzzaffar Alaqaband presented documentary displaying different interventions
carried out by J&K KVIB at three clusters.
Others present on the occasion included director RSETI, lead bankers, representatives from
JKEDI, district officers of J&KKVIB and representatives from NGOs.