Srinagar 07 June (KNS): Director Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir Mahmood Ahmad Shah today took stock of the Cluster Program of the Handloom wing that are currently being implemented across different locations in the Kashmir Division.

As per the statement issued to Kashmir News Service, the field functionaries appraised the chair that presently there are 08 Block Level Clusters in various phases active in Kashmir out of which 04 in Srinagar, 02 in Budgam, 01 in Ganderbal and 01 is in Baramulla at the cost of Rs 14.00 crores.

 The said clusters working for the overall development of weaver community have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) for over all development of Weavers community of the Union Territory.

The Director was appraised that Utilization Certificate of Block Level Cluster, Hawal amounting to the tune of Rs. 54.35 lakh was sent to Ministry of Textiles for release of 2d instalment amounting to the tune of Rs. 19.00 Lakhs. It was also directed to process the due UCs the clusters.

The Director stressed that all grievances regarding the clusters should be redressed swiftly so that the weaver community can extract a maximum benefit from the cluster program. 

The Director stressed that all such schemes that are in vogue of betterment of weavers community shall be implemented in effective manner so that maximum number of Weavers will get benefitted as they are practising centuries old art of weaving to earn their livelihood.

 The Director has impressed upon that maximum number of benefits shall be extended to the weavers community under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) through Block Level Clusters for their Skill up-gradation, Technological Intervention and economic upliftment.

 On spot instructions were issued to Assistant Directors of the Kashmir Division to formulate fresh proposals for Block Level Clusters from weaver concentrated areas so that same may be got sanctioned from the Development Commissioner, Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India at an earliest. The meeting comes on the heels of the Govt. decision to fix minimum support prize for G.I. Products.(KNS)