Kargil: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon today attended the National Handloom Day event organised by the Department of Industries and Commerce, UT Ladakh, and inaugurated a seven-day Craft Mela at TFC Kargil.
Various stalls by the Handloom and Handicraft Department, artisans, SHG groups, EDI, DIC, and affiliated societies showcased a wide range of products, including knitted items, carpets, woollen toys, caps, and shawls.
CEC Kargil, accompanied by Executive Councillor Kacho Mohd Feroz and Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar, visited the stalls and interacted with artisans. They offered suggestions for product improvement and appreciated the craftsmanship involved in promoting local art and culture.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Jaffer stressed the importance of making youth self-reliant, particularly by exploring entrepreneurship opportunities in the handloom and handicraft sectors. He emphasised the need to support artisans, especially those from remote areas, so they can develop and sustain their craft.
Dr Jaffer also underlined the importance of initiating training programmes for artisans at the village level. He noted that while progress has been made, it is now essential to prioritise quality to help local artisans compete at national and global levels.
Executive Councillor Kacho Mohd Feroz called for enhanced support for artisans through training and exposure tours, and emphasised the importance of youth becoming self-reliant in today’s competitive service economy.
In his remarks, DC Rakesh Kumar highlighted the need to expand the reach of the handloom and handicraft sector to villages and blocks. He proposed setting up permanent stalls for SHG groups at the subdivision level in the near future.
The DC also shared plans to beautify Bulbul Bagh and Sher Bagh, including provisions for stalls dedicated to SHG groups and artisans under the handloom and handicraft sector. He further assured that training initiatives will be launched soon, with dedicated efforts to strengthen Kargil’s artisan community.
Earlier, Superintendent of the Handloom Department, Arifa Iqbal, welcomed the guests and said the objective of the seven-day craft display was to provide a platform for local artisans to market their products. She noted that sales worth ₹13 lakh were achieved last year and expressed hope for even better results this year.
The event was attended by Executive Councillor Kacho Mohd Feroz, Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar, Joint Director Finance Iftikhar Hussain, Councillor Town Haji Mohd Abbas, Councillor Saliskote Mohd Sajjad Khan, Programme Officer ICDS Nargis Banoo, CMO Kargil Dr Liaqat Ali Khan, Superintendent Handloom Department Arifa Iqbal, as well as concerned district officers, artisans, SHG members, and a large number of craft enthusiasts.
The Craft Mela will continue till August 14, and the general public is encouraged to participate and support the artisans by purchasing their products.
