Handloom Development Department

Handloom Development Department was re-named from cottage Industries in 1986-87 and was taken up by the Handloom sector J&K under the Ministry of Industries & Commerce J&K and after the bifurcation of J&K State formally on 31st October 2019, Handloom Development Department Leh and Kargil merged into Directorate of Industries & Commerce of Union Territory of Ladakh. It is a genuine fact that Ladakh is the only high yielding pashmina and wool grower districts in the country and Handloom department is committed to preserve the traditional craftsmanship of Ladakh and upliftment of Artisans/Weavers of Ladakh.

VARIOUS CRAFTS PRACTISED IN LADAKH ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• Weaving
• Spinning
• Dying
• Tailoring
• Knitting

1. VARIOUS TRAINING PROGRAMMES:

Handloom Training Centres are functioning in different villages under the district non plan. The duration of the training programme is 6 months to 1 year for different crafts. A sum of the Rs.500/-per month is paid to the trainees as stipend for the whole training period. The intake capacity of these training centres is 10- 15 trainees. About 3000 trainees have been trained so far in different crafts in Leh district.

2. ORGANISING HANDLOOM EXHIBITIONS.

The department keeps organizing Handloom exhibition during various festivals and events like Ladakh Festival, SindhuDarshan, UT foundation Day, Handloom Day, DosmocheyMela, DilliHaat etc. in which Self Help Groups, entrepreneursand individual artisans of Handloom are provided stall etc to show their end products.

3. VARIOUS SCHEMES OF THE DEPARTMENT

WEAVERS MUDRA SCHEME:
The Weaver Mudra Scheme (WMS) is a financial assistance program for handloom weavers that provide credit for working capital, tools and equipment. The scheme is implemented by the Handloom Department. The eligible candidates for this scheme areHandloom Weavers involved in weaving activity, Weaver Entrepreneur, Self Help Groups etc.

The WMS offers the following benefits:
• Credit of up to 2 lakhs is available to weavers.
• The government of India (GOI) provides an interest subsidy of up to 7% for a maximum of three years.
• A 20% margin money assistance of up to Rs 10,000 is provided to weavers to help them borrow loans.
• The WMS is monitored by the National Implementation Monitoring & Review Committee (NIMRC) and the State Implementation Monitoring & Review Committee (SIMRC)

4. REGISTRATION OF ARTISANS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

The department also register artisans in the different crafts. These artisans have to undergo practical test to get themselves registered. The practical test is carried to test the expertise of the artisans and is conducted by the concerned instructor of the department. After the successful completion of the practical test, the Artisans are provided an artisans registration cum identity card. This card helps the artisans to participate in the various exhibitions and to get loan from the banks to start their business. The registration process was started by the department in 2004 and still going on.

5. SUBSIDY SCHEME: THAKZO YARGYAS

Under subsidy Schemea subsidy on tools/Machinery/equipmentis provided so that those who are interested in carrying forward the learnt skill would make a living from it.
The main Objectives of the Scheme are:
• To motivate educated unemployed youth to work in weaving, spinning, and knitting in an innovative way.
• To support the trained artisans by provision of subsidized tool in the trade they will learn.

75% MACHINE AND EQUIPMENTS SUBSIDY:

The beneficiary has to pay 25% of Machine & Equipment cost and will receive the machine. Remaining 75% payment on machine & Equipment of the supplier will be made by the Department from Subsidy Head.