Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Mar 27: In a move to strengthen quality assurance and global credibility of Kashmir’s famed Pashmina, the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, has procured a high-end Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for the Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC).
The introduction of SEM-based testing is aimed at achieving international standards in Geographical Indication (GI) testing and certification of Pashmina and other handwoven products, officials said.
According to officials the advanced technology will enable precise fibre analysis and help accurately distinguish genuine Pashmina from other fibres.
“This will play a crucial role in safeguarding the authenticity of pure Pashmina products and protect artisans and traders from misrepresentation and counterfeit goods being sold as Kashmiri handmade products,” they said.
Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Mussarat Zia, in a post on X, said the introduction of the high-end SEM will ensure that Pashmina fibre testing and GI certification carried out at PTQCC is aligned with global benchmarks, ultimately paving the way for the centre to be recognised as a Centre of Excellence.
He added that the new system will broaden the scope of testing at PTQCC, enabling analysis of a wide range of organic and inorganic materials.
Zia further said that the addition of three more high-resolution digital microscopes at PTQCC, the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), and the newly established Quality Control Laboratory will significantly increase the number of tests conducted and help reduce waiting time for product testing-one of the long-pending demands of GI-authorised users, craft business stakeholders and the artisan community.
Notably, the Director had told Excelsior in an interview in December last year that the department was set to introduce Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) technology to further strengthen authentication mechanisms for high-value Kashmir crafts.
The SEM has been procured under the ‘Technology Support’ component of the National Handicrafts Development Programme of the Ministry of Textiles.
Officials said the equipment will also enhance the lab’s analytical capabilities beyond fibre testing.
In addition to the SEM, the department has procured three high-resolution digital microscopes for the PTQCC, IICT laboratory, and the Quality Control Laboratory.
These are expected to significantly enhance testing capacity, reduce waiting time, and improve service delivery for stakeholders.
Kashmir currently has 15 GI-registered crafts, including high-value hand-knotted carpets, Pashmina, Kani, Tweed, Sozni embroidery, Chainstitch, Wagguv, Gabba and Namda, besides non-textile crafts such as walnut wood carving and papier mache.
The spokesperson added that documentation for six additional crafts has been completed and will soon be submitted to the GI Registry in Chennai for registration.
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