Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Choudhary Lal Singh met Union Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar. Choudhary Lal Singh briefed the Union Minister about the State crafts in general and the world famous Basohli pashmina shawls and Kashmir’s Kani shawls. He apprised him of several issues envisaging further boost to these waorld famous craft besides telling him about certain problems being faced by the weavers of the State. “Our world famous Pashmina Shawls can be improved and that too on lower costs if the industry is provided with sufficient and improvised machines in the State itself,” Singh told the Minister. The main problem of the people associated with this craft is lack of sufficient raw material, he added. Responding to the problems of Pashmina and Kani shawl weavers projected by Lal Singh, the Union Minister assured that all possible help would be provided to them so that they can further boost their production and economy as well. The Union Minister assured Lal Singh that the Union Government would explore possibilities for establishment of raw material manufacturing units for Pashmina in Basohli and for other crafts in Kashmir province. The Union Minister informed that Centre is making all out efforts to increase the number of weaver training centres for women entrepreneurs in the State besides enhancing the funding for modern looms and opening up of Weaver Service Centre in Basohli . The Union Minister also assured the Minister that Centre would provide all possible help to weaver community of Basohli and Kashmir under textile sector so that they would be able to earn enough to live a dignified life. Santosh Kumar Gangwar informed that Government of India is also initiating various empowerment programmes for women weavers across the country.
