Lt. Governor Shri Manoj Sinha felicitated J&K’s craftspersons at the Pashmina Artisan Awards Ceremony. LG urged citizens to “buy local and empower our great artisans”, highlighting that J&K is a repository of rich creative tradition and its handmade products are gaining global recognition. The Lieutenant Governor said every household in the country must buy a creative product made of master artisans of the UT. “I am confident the nation’s growing middle class, which could make up over half the population by 2030, will create a strong domestic market for J&K’s handmade products,” the Lieutenant Governor said. Highlighting the craftsmanship and skills of the artisans, the Lieutenant Governor said, Jammu Kashmir is a repository of rich creative tradition, which manifests in its unique and ingenious handmade products. He also observed that various initiatives since 2020 have yielded significant results boosting UT’s handicraft exports and positioning it as a unique player in the global crafts market. “Let us honour and celebrate the products made by the gifted hands. These hands are not just weaving a product. They are weaving magic through every thread, through every intricate design and subtle shades,” the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor highlighted various initiatives taken by the government to strengthen the handicraft and handloom sector and to promote the export. He said, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, new schemes and policy interventions, coupled with the development of strong infrastructure, have ensured comprehensive support to young and master artisans and revived the UT’s unique cultural and artistic heritage. The Lieutenant Governor called upon all the stakeholder departments to ensure that artisans directly benefit from new GST refor He emphasised on increasing the visibility of Jammu Kashmir’s beautiful art at major airports, shopping malls, and e-commerce sites in India and abroad, and to provide a recognition to the skilled hands behind the product. “We must also promote cities and villages renowned for their artisans on the global craft map so that artisans and craftspeople who have been practicing these arts for decades can receive the due respect and recognition they deserve, the Lieutenant Governor further said. The Pashmina Artisan Awards honored excellence across several categories of traditional craft with core focus on the Pashmina Sector. Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce Department; Dr Hina Shafi Bhat, former Chairperson KVIB; Mussarat Zia, Director Handicraft and Handloom Kashmir; Tariq Dar, President, Pashmeena Entrepreneurs Makers and Artisans (PEMA) Foundation, and office bearers of PEMA Foundation, senior officials, members of business and trade associations artisans and craftspeople attended the felicitation ceremony.