The 10 percent rebate available on purchase of yarn to the handicrafts sector, has now been extended to the purchase of woolen yarn as well as to promote handloom sector in India, Textiles Minister K Sambasiva Rao has said, Business Standard reported quoting PTI.

 

Mr. Rao was speaking at the inaugural session of 2-day workshop and interactive session for development and promotion of handicraft of Jammu and Kashmir at J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute in Jammu.

 

The Minister said there is need to make handicraft market driven and conforming to the quickly changing consumer tastes and preferences.

 

Continuous design development and skill upgradation is important in this regard, he said, and added that the Central Government would extend full financial and technical support to Jammu & Kashmir in this regard.

 

The traditional handicrafts of the state have good demand in foreign countries, but design development and quality improvement of handicrafts is necessary to improve the living standard of artisans, the Minister said.

 

He mentioned that the National Centre for Design and Product Development (NCDPD) has been established by the Central Government to keep the handicrafts sector updated about the technological advancements taking place globally.

 

Textiles Secretary Zohra Chatterji said the handicraft sector is a major source of livelihood, and product diversification is imperative for the development of the sector.