Srinagar, Nov 06 (KNS): Valley-based copper workers Sunday expressed resentment against the authorities for their ‘inaction’ to curb the violation of law.
Demanding justice, they said the famed copperware industry of Kashmir was on the verge of extinction due to the intrusion of the machines.
Under J&K Prohibition and Manufacturing of Specified Copper Utensils by Machine Act 2006, manufacture of cooper utensils by machines is prohibited.
Muhammad Altaf Dar, General Secretary of The Copper Kashmir Workers Trade Union said that concern authorities are not proactive to implement the law.
“The use of machines is rampant at various places despite the ban on their use. We have been rendered jobless by intrusion of machine made copper items being sold openly in markets despite official ban,” he rued.
They said that they had to spend most of times in government offices to plead before concern authorities to activate its officials to curb the violation of law.
“Few senior officials and district administration is always helping us after we submit representation, requests and appeals before them. However, the sad part of the commentary is that concern authorities never pay heed to our pleas,” he added.
While holding the officials order issued by General Manager DIC Srinagar vide number DICS/Sgr/Copper/2015/2059-62 dated September 15, 2015, he said that a team of three officials who were assigned to brought the violators of law to justice, have never been proactive to curb the violations.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“We have been repeatedly urging concern authorities to ensure implementation of law. However they are not performing their duties in this regard, for the reasons best known to them,” he added.
He said that more than 50,000 skilled workers including their families in Srinagar were earning their livelihood from copper work, “but now the use of machine-made items has rendered them jobless.”
“Kashmiri artisans were known for producing excellent products of copperware consisting mostly of cooking pots and samovars and sundry articles for the household or the mantelpiece, but the machine has snatched from their living,” he said.
“The machine-made items, which are being sold at cheaper rates, defame our revered craft as these items are inferior in quality,” said a group of artisans.
No official was available for comments over the matter. (KNS)