The Jammu and Kashmir government launched the Chief Minister’s scheme to preserve traditional crafts and promote skill-based livelihoods in the union territory on Thursday.
The government has approved the “Chief Minister’s Scheme for the Introduction of Heritage Courses” under the Skill Development Department. The office of the Chief Minister said the scheme aims to revive seven traditional craft courses across 25 units in government ITIs and polytechnics with an intake capacity of more than 500 students.
The initiative also aims to provide stipends for trainees and honorarium for instructors to encourage participation and ensure effective implementation.
The statement further said that the initiative marks an important step towards reviving J&K’s rich heritage while empowering youth with employable, craft-based skills.
The J&K government is introducing new craft training programmes, primarily to revive languishing traditional crafts, provide sustainable employment opportunities for the youth and improve the socio-economic status of artisans.
Besides, there are several other schemes designed to improve the livelihood of the artisans residing in rural and urban areas of the UT. The Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom runs a large network of training centres with around 553 centres across the UT, training approximately 7,500 to 8,500 trainees annually in various elementary and advanced courses.
Some centrally sponsored schemes implemented in the region include Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), under which specific projects, like the pilot project for reviving the Namda craft, have already trained nearly 2,200 candidates.
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