Srinagar February 10 (KNS): In a major flip to hand carved copperware work, the Department of Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir is taking various pro-active steps which include promotion of the hand craved copper products to checking the sale of machine made products as hand made. The same was announced today by Mahmood A. Shah, Director, Handicrafts & Handlooms, Kashmir in a meeting with the union of artisans associated with copperware craft.

On this occasion Director Handicrafts & Handlooms, Kashmir informed the union that the Department has started the process of QR code based labelling of the hand carved copper products. The said labels stand launched by the LG last week and would be important step to check the sale machine made copper products and would also create a greater market demand for the genuine hand made copper products.

While appreciating the efforts of the Department, the union raised the demand of stopping the practice wherein machine made copper products are being sold as handmade.

The meeting besides the officials of the Department was also attended by TAHAFUZ, a body of artisans associated with GI labeling of the six crafts which stand registered under GI Act of India. President of TAHAFUZ appreciated the steps being taken by the Handicrafts and Handlooms Department for the promotion and marketing of the genuine handmade crafts of Kashmir and assured their full support and cooperation to the Department.(KNS)