Empowering Women, Reviving Heritage: H&H Launches Major Carpet Skill Upgradation Drive

SRINAGAR : As a major initiative to strengthen Kashmir’s traditional carpet weaving sector and enhance artisans’ skills, Department of Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir, through its state-of-the-art Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), has launched a skill upgradation training programme under the Ministry of Textiles-sponsored SAMARTH Scheme.
SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector) is a flagship Ministry of Textiles initiative aimed at providing demand-driven and industry-oriented training to improve employability and promote sustainable livelihoods in the handicrafts sector. The programme is aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), ensuring nationally recognized training and certification standards.
In a press handout issued here today, a spokesperson of the Handicrafts 7 Handloom Department stated that under the programme, 180 women beneficiaries from eight districts of Kashmir are scheduled to receive training in Silk Carpet Weaving on Modern Steel Carpet Looms over a period of two months. “Twenty trainees have been enrolled from 8 districts, while Srinagar, a major carpet weaving hub, will accommodate 40 trainees,” the spokesperson said.
Speaking on the occasion, Zubair Ahmad, Director, IICT, said that trainees maintaining at least 80 percent attendance will be eligible for a stipend of ₹5,000 per course, providing both skill enhancement as well as financial support. “The experienced Master Trainers engaged to impart specialized training under the programme will receive an honorarium of ₹20,000 per month, with a total training facilitation cost of approximately ₹3.60 lakh,” he added.
Highlighting the scheme’s robust monitoring framework, Director IICT further stated that the programme will undergo third-party audit and verification by auditors appointed by the Ministry of Textiles to assess compliance, training quality, attendance records and implementation outcomes. “To ensure transparency and effective monitoring, the programme incorporates an Aadhaar-based biometric attendance system” he added.
Department of Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir continues to undertake focused interventions for the revival, preservation and promotion of the world-renowned Kashmir Carpet Craft. Through modernization of weaving infrastructure, skill upgradation, artisan welfare initiatives, market linkages, GI protection and capacity-building programmes such as SAMARTH, the Department remains committed to safeguarding this centuries-old heritage craft while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, particularly for women artisans across the Valley.