*Six clusters under implementation
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 27: In a significant push to strengthen traditional industries and rural employment in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of India has sanctioned Rs 501.64 lakh under the Khadi Gramodyog Vikas Yojana (KGVY) over the last three financial years, with Rs 443.63 lakh already utilized for the development of the Khadi and Village Industries (KVI) sector in the Union Territory and six major clusters under implementation across the Union Territory.
These cluster-based model, being implemented in districts across both divisions of the Union Territory, is aimed at converting age-old household activities into structured micro-enterprises with modern infrastructure, common facilities, improved technology and market linkages.
Sources said the initiatives are being executed under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) and the Khadi Gramodyog Vikas Yojana (KGVY) through the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), focusing on infrastructure creation, skill upgradation, value addition and better market access for artisans.
The six clusters taken up in J&K cover both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions and are linked to locally viable activities. These include Banihal Bee Keeping Cluster in Ramban, Kailash Kund Sudh Mahadev Bee Keeping Cluster in Doda, Masterjee Bee Keeping Cluster in Samba, Pattan Weaving Cluster in Baramulla, Pampore Cluster in Pulwama and Srinagar Honey Cluster in Srinagar.
Officials said the cluster-based approach is aimed at shifting artisans from individual, scattered production to a more organized system with common facility centres, improved tools and technology, packaging, branding and marketing support. This, they added, is expected to significantly enhance productivity and ensure better returns to craftsmen and rural entrepreneurs.
According to sources, Rs 501.64 lakh has been sanctioned and released for J&K under KGVY from 2022-23 to 2024-25, of which Rs 443.63 lakh has already been utilised, reflecting steady progress in implementation on the ground.
The programmes have led to generation of employment opportunities in rural areas, with a special thrust on women artisans and beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, who form a substantial part of the workforce in traditional village industries such as beekeeping, weaving and honey processing.
The interventions are being viewed as a major step towards reviving heritage crafts, promoting self-employment and strengthening the rural economy, particularly in remote and hilly districts where livelihood options are limited.
Sources further indicated that the focus on beekeeping and honey clusters is aligned with the region’s agro-climatic potential, while weaving and khadi-related activities are helping preserve traditional skills and create new market linkages.
With sustained financial support and institutional backing, the Khadi and village industries sector is expected to emerge as a key driver of inclusive growth, women-led entrepreneurship and employment generation in J&K.
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