Srinagar, Oct 28: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday called for a ban on machine-made handicraft products, saying they devalue traditional crafts, cause heavy losses to artisans, and threaten their livelihoods.
Speaking outside the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Mufti demanded strict enforcement of safeguards reserving the production of 26 notified handicraft items exclusively for manual craftsmanship. Her late father, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, introduced the provisions to protect traditional artisans from machine-made competition.
She said the growing availability of machine-produced alternatives had severely affected the earnings of craftsmen, many of whom depend on small workshops to sustain their families.
“Our artisans are important, and we need to promote them,” Mufti said, stressing the need to protect the traditional skills that have been passed down through generations.
Highlighting the decline in artisans’ incomes, she said craftsmen who once earned around Rs 1,000 a day were now struggling to make even Rs 200. She warned that allowing machines to replace handmade production was undermining the value of traditional craftsmanship and making it increasingly difficult for artisans to sustain their livelihoods.
“These artisans’ hands are worth their weight in gold,” she said, emphasising the importance of preserving skills that form an integral part of Kashmir’s cultural and economic heritage.
Mufti urged the government to restore and strictly implement the safeguards introduced during her father’s tenure, arguing that traditional handmade products needed protection from industrial competition. She also invoked the legacy of Shah-e-Hamadan, whom she credited with bringing handicraft traditions to Kashmir, and called for greater efforts to preserve the Valley’s artisanal heritage.
Seeking financial relief for the struggling artisan community, Mufti demanded a waiver of loans amounting to around Rs 1.8 lakh extended to artisans.
She also called for artisans to be brought under the labour category so that they could access welfare benefits available to workers.
The demands come amid concerns over declining earnings in the traditional handicraft sector, where competition from machine-made products has put pressure on craftsmen who rely on labour-intensive production. Mufti stressed the need for government intervention to provide immediate financial relief while protecting the market for handmade goods.
Mufti also questioned the condition of roads and civic infrastructure in Downtown Srinagar, particularly around Jamia Masjid, pointing to damaged roads and uncovered or hazardous manholes.
“Look at the condition of the roads here. I do not know what has happened to the roads,” she said, criticising the state of basic amenities in an area of major religious, historical and cultural significance.
Taking a dig at the Omar Abdullah-led government, she questioned the delivery of civic services despite the electoral support received by Srinagar’s representatives.
“You have been elected with so much support and so many votes. Now, at the very least, please take care of these roads,” she said, urging the administration to undertake proper repairs and address infrastructure deficiencies in Downtown Srinagar.
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