Srinagar, Sept 30 (JKNS): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said the artisans engaged in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pashmina craft are carrying forward a valuable cultural legacy and called for stronger measures to improve their earnings, welfare and access to international markets.
The Lieutenant Governor was speaking at the Pashmina Annual Artisan Awards 2026, hosted by the Pashmeena Entrepreneurs Makers and Artisans (PEMA) Foundation at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Srinagar as per news agency JKNS, The event brought together artisans and stakeholders associated with the traditional Pashmina industry and recognised craftsmen for their contribution towards preserving the region’s centuries-old artistic traditions.
The awards, instituted in 2023, were presented for the third time this year.
Congratulating the recipients, Sinha said the occasion went beyond honouring individual achievements as it celebrated the generations of craftsmanship that have given Jammu and Kashmir a distinctive place on the global handicrafts map.
LG Sinha said, artisans who continue to work with patience and dedication, often despite difficult circumstances, play an important role in preserving the cultural identity of society.
“India has always considered handicrafts to be a form of divine knowledge, and society bows before every artisan who begins the process of creation from nothing,” the LG said.
Speaking about Pashmina, Sinha said the craft reflected the extraordinary patience and artistic ability of generations of artisans who developed intricate designs and fine weaving techniques without the benefit of modern industrial machinery.
He said recognising artisans through such platforms was important to encourage them to carry the tradition forward while adapting it to contemporary times.
The Lieutenant Governor placed special emphasis on the role of women in sustaining the Pashmina ecosystem, saying their contribution extends from processing raw fibre to producing intricate handcrafted articles.
“They are not merely participants in this tradition; they are its fundamental strength, its custodians and its true heartbeat,” he said.
Sinha said traditional skills such as Kani and Sozni embroidery were passed down within families, with mothers, sisters and daughters playing a key role in preserving techniques and ensuring that the knowledge reached successive generations.
He appreciated the PEMA Foundation for creating platforms to recognise and encourage artisans, noting its initiatives during 2023 and 2025 and the organisation of the second Pashmina Week.
According to the LG, such initiatives have helped create greater visibility for the sector while also opening opportunities for artisans and entrepreneurs.
He said young artisans honoured at the event were particularly significant as they represented a new generation capable of combining traditional craftsmanship with modern designs and changing market preferences.
The Lieutenant Governor said preserving traditional crafts in the present era required addressing several challenges, including competition from machine-made products, availability of raw material, changing consumer preferences and limited access to modern markets.
He emphasised that artisans must receive adequate compensation for the time, expertise and painstaking effort involved in producing authentic Pashmina articles.
Sinha said the Government of India and the Jammu and Kashmir administration were committed to supporting the artisan community and ensuring that traditional craftsmen could pursue their livelihoods with dignity.
He also highlighted the importance of the GI tag and authentication systems in protecting genuine Pashmina products and helping consumers distinguish authentic craftsmanship from machine-made or spurious products.
The Lieutenant Governor said around 4.07 lakh artisans and their families associated with the handloom and handicrafts sector had been provided economic security as of August this year.
He also referred to various schemes and interventions aimed at strengthening the sector, including MUDRA, the Jammu and Kashmir Credit Card Scheme and initiatives under the Karigar Scheme for skill development and encouraging younger people to enter traditional crafts.
Sinha said expanding the international footprint of Jammu and Kashmir’s handicrafts should remain a major focus.
“The world wants to see your art,” he said, while emphasising the potential of e-commerce, digital platforms, international exhibitions and emerging markets to take the work of local artisans to global consumers and the luxury segment.
He also called for greater attention to the welfare of artisan families through social security, healthcare support, welfare programmes and training in contemporary designs.
The LG urged the PEMA Foundation, Industries Department and Handloom and Handicrafts Department to work together to strengthen the traditional craft ecosystem and create better opportunities for artisans.
He said an authentic Pashmina product reaching a customer anywhere in the world carries with it not only the work of an artisan but also a part of Jammu and Kashmir’s history and cultural identity.
Sinha urged artisans to recognise the value of their own craftsmanship and said their dedication and creativity were helping preserve India’s cultural memory.
He congratulated all the award recipients and appreciated their contribution towards keeping Jammu and Kashmir’s traditional handicraft heritage alive. (JKNS)
