Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has issued a stern directive to the Industries & Commerce department to crack down on showrooms and retail outlets selling machine-made carpets disguised as authentic Kashmiri hand-knotted products. The Chief Minister emphasized that this deceptive practice jeopardizes the global reputation of Kashmiri hand-made carpets and threatens the livelihoods of artisan families dependent on the craft.
The Chief Minister’s action follows a meeting with a joint delegation from the Carpet Export Promotion Council, Indian Silk Export Promotion Council, Meeras Carpet Weavers Cooperative, Kashmir Carpet Cluster Development Organization, and Kashmir Carpet Manufacturers Association. The delegation urged the prohibition of machine-made carpets in all handicrafts-registered showrooms and stronger enforcement against unscrupulous traders using fake Geographical Indication (GI) labels on machine-made items. They stressed the importance of preserving this craft, which is integral to Kashmir’s identity and the artisans’ survival.
