In a significant development aimed at strengthening the collective voice of traditional artisans in Kashmir, the Kashmir Copper Workers Trade Union, representing nearly 15,000 artisans and workers, formally affiliated with the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) during a ceremony held at the union’s historic office in Kadi Kadal, Srinagar.
On the occasion, Chairman of the Kashmir Copper Workers Trade Union Jan Mohammad Misgar and President Mohammad Arshid Ahmad Khan were felicitated by KTMF President Mohammad Yaseen Khan for their efforts in preserving and promoting Kashmir’s traditional copper craft.
The event was attended by members of the union’s working body and senior KTMF leaders, including Qazi Tauseef, Bashir Ahmad Rather, Peer Intikhab Alam, Abdul Majeed Khan, Shabir Ahmad Naqash, Javaid Iqbal Bujja and Nisar Ahmad Shahdar.
Addressing the gathering, Jan Mohammad Misgar highlighted the serious challenges confronting the traditional copper industry in Kashmir. He said thousands of artisans associated with the craft were facing severe hardships due to the increasing influx of machine-made products, which has adversely affected the livelihood of local copper workers and threatened the survival of traditional craftsmanship.
He expressed concern that generations-old artisan skills were gradually declining as handmade copper products struggled to compete with mass-produced alternatives available in the market. Misgar stressed the need for institutional support, policy intervention and collective efforts to safeguard the interests of artisans dependent on the sector.
Senior KTMF leader Bashir Ahmad Rather said KTMF has consistently served as a united platform for traders, manufacturers, artisans and other sections of society in J&K. He said the inclusion of the Kashmir Copper Workers Trade Union into KTMF would further strengthen the organisation and provide a stronger institutional platform to thousands of artisans associated with the trade.
Speaking on the occasion, KTMF President Mohammad Yaseen Khan welcomed the union into the KTMF fold and assured members of full support in addressing their concerns and grievances.
He said Kashmir’s traditional copper craft was not merely a commercial activity but an important part of the Valley’s rich cultural and historical heritage that must be preserved and protected.
Yaseen Khan assured the artisans that KTMF would strongly raise their issues with the concerned authorities and work towards safeguarding the interests of copper workers and traditional craftsmen.
Participants expressed hope that the affiliation would open a new chapter for the welfare and upliftment of copper workers and provide them with a stronger collective platform to voice their concerns and seek solutions to longstanding issues.
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