Overview
- Union Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao distributed Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms under the IWDP at IICT Srinagar to clusters across Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Kulgam and Srinagar to improve efficiency and design precision.
- She said the ministry is working toward a robust testing and certification ecosystem for Pashmina and other animal fibres, emphasizing smarter certification, numbering and coding to enable traceability and better export readiness.
- An Animal Fibre Quality Assurance Laboratory was inaugurated at SKUAST-K Shuhama, and the secretary assured support for procuring state-of-the-art machines at the Pashmina Testing & Quality Certification Centre.
- The visit included reviews at NIFT Srinagar and IICT, a virtual opening of the Craft Handloom Village at Kanihama, and acknowledgment of NHDP-backed upgrades to NABL-accredited facilities.
- Rao highlighted artisan welfare priorities and market diversification, noted stakeholder praise for the GST cut to 5 percent, and said a proposal for 500 additional looms is under consideration.