Srinagar, Jan 20, KNT: The Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, has issued a stern warning to showroom owners dealing in handmade craft products, urging them to refrain from selling machine-made items under the guise of genuine handmade products. Violators will face strict action under the provisions of the Tourist Trade and Quality Control Acts.
A spokesperson for the department revealed that numerous complaints have been received regarding the sale of machine-made Turkish carpets to tourists and buyers as authentic Kashmir hand-knotted carpets. Such practices tarnish the rich heritage of Kashmiri craftsmanship.
“Swift action has been initiated, with several showrooms inspected and unlabelled machine-made products confiscated,” the spokesperson said.
The department’s Central Inspection Squad from the Quality Control wing has been directed to intensify inspections in Srinagar City Centre, health resort routes to Gulmarg and Pahalgam, and other key locations. These efforts aim to crack down on traders misrepresenting counterfeit items as handmade Kashmir art.
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To promote the sale of authentic handmade products, the spokesperson encouraged stakeholders to utilize services provided by the Handicrafts and Handloom Department for GI tagging, testing, and certification at CDI & IICT. This ensures customer satisfaction while preserving Kashmir’s rich artistic heritage.
“The department is working to enhance the capacity for testing and certifying handmade products, especially at the Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre at CDI,” the spokesperson added. [KNT]
