Gets applauds from PM Modi
Srinagar, July 24: Namda, Kashmir’s nearly extinct traditional woollen rug, is not only making a resurgence in local homes but also earning international acclaim.
It is a traditional skill that entails making felted carpets from sheep wool and hand needlework. It was introduced in the 16th century by a Sufi saint Shah-e-Hamdan.
Namda Craft of Kashmir is being successfully resurrected under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana programme, and the first batch of Namda Art goods for export to the United Kingdom (UK) has been exported.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India’s Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, flagged off the first batch of Namda Art items for export to the United Kingdom (UK) last week.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Kashmiri artisans for their efforts in reviving the Namda craft as the first batch of Namda Art products has been successfully exported to the United Kingdom (UK).
While reacting to a news report about the export of Namda from India to the UK, PM Modi, in a tweet, said that the revival of the craft was great news for the heritage of the region.
“Delighted that Kashmir’s centuries-old ‘Namda’ craft is reviving and now reaching global shores after years! This is a testament to our artisans’ skills and resilience. This revival is great news for our rich heritage, ” he said.
According to Arshad Mir, Chairman of the Handicraft And Carpet Sector Skill Council, Namda art has always been in high demand across the world, but the previous administration disregarded it, and the art was on the verge of extinction.
“Many thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for focusing on reviving dying Namda art. It has not only empowered the valley’s youth but also given them a platform to expose their ability to the rest of the globe,” he added.
Namda craft is a rug made of sheep wool through the felting technique instead of the normal weaving process. Due to the low availability of raw materials, lack of skilled manpower and marketing techniques, the export of this craft declined by almost 100 per cent between 1998 and 2008, the statement said.
“Therefore, through this special project under PMKVY, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has designed a short-term training curriculum to preserve this endangered craft. The project has been implemented in 25 batches in 3 cycles of training. Each training program was approximately three and half months, which resulted in the cycles being completed in approximately 14 – 16 months”, it read.
In the year 2021, Minister of State for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar launched Pilot Special Project on reviving the Namda craft of Kashmir through skilling and upskilling of Artisans and Weavers in the crafts clusters of the Valley, the statement added.
Further, the statement said that under this initiative, nearly 2,200 candidates have been trained in the art of Namda craft, representing a significant milestone in preserving this traditional craft and empowering the local weavers and artisans. The project has successfully trained individuals across six districts of Kashmir, namely Srinagar, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam, and Anantnag.
