Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the issues raised by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), in Civil Secretariat, here today.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, S. Vikramjit Singh, Director, Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir, Mussrat Islam and President, KCCI, Javed Tenga, amongst others.
During the meeting, President KCCI raised the issue concerning handicrafts and handloom sector, particularly in light of the recent Notices issued by the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom to the Kashmir Handicrafts showrooms regarding sale of machine-made products along with handcrafted items. He also raised the issue of expediting testing and certification of GI products at PTQCC lab at Bagh-e-Ali Mardan Khan.
The Advisor was briefed by the Department about the background of the Notices issued, in light of the formal complaint lodged by tourists for being sold machine-made imitations in the garb of Kashmir Handicrafts. He was informed that in one serious case of unfair trade practice, one showroom was blacklisted for selling a counterfeit product and pasting a fake GI label on it, with the sole intention to dupe the buyer.
Reiterating the Government’s resolve to secure the interests of talented artisans and weavers of Kashmir, Nasir Aslam directed the department to submit a comprehensive proposal for safeguarding the interests of the artisans as well as the business stakeholders associated with the crafts trade. He further advised the KCCI delegation to initiate formal discussions with the Department of Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir, and to submit a comprehensive proposal at the earliest for consideration of the Government to allow the sale of machine-made products, provided they are properly labeled and segregated as a distinct product category. This would ensure transparency and prevent buyers from being misled into purchasing misbranded goods.
The KCCI delegation was also urged to sensitize all dealers about the importance of protecting and promoting authentic Kashmiri handicrafts. The Government, it was emphasized, will take strict action against mislabeling, misbranding, and deceptive alterations of products that are intended to pass off as genuine Kashmiri handicraft items.
Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce briefed the Advisor about the steps taken by the Department to upgrade the testing labs, in particular PTQCC, which has acquired new digital microscope and is in the process of procuring more high-end machines like SEM and additional HR Digital Microscope to further enhance the rate of testing of GI registered products.
The KCCI delegation also apprised the Advisor to the Chief Minister of the adverse impact on genuine hotels and restaurateurs caused by the sale of sub-standard meat by unscrupulous elements. They urged the Government to identify the suppliers of such harmful meat along with their entire supply chain.
In response, the Advisor assured the delegation that the Government is taking all necessary measures to curb the supply and sale of unsafe food. He emphasized that public confidence can only be restored when those engaged in the trade proactively educate consumers about food safety and the hygienic practices being followed, as public health remains a matter of paramount importance.