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Kashmiri Namdha Craft

Refurbished machine will reduce manual labour, meet local demand big time

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 1: In a significant step toward revival and promotion of the traditional craft of Kashmiri Namdha, the Government has approved funds for refurbishing and installation of a high-capacity Carding Machine at its UNDP wing.

This initiative falls under the larger objective of strengthening the infrastructure and sustainability of traditional handicrafts and handloom sectors in the Valley.

Namdha, a Centuries-old craft involving felting and embroidery of woollen fabric, has been witnessing a steady decline due to various constraints, notably the lack of wool processing facilities, high input costs, and time-consuming manual methods. The refurbishment of the Carding Machine under the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) budgeting is expected to address these bottlenecks directly.


In a press statement issued here today, Mirza Shahid Ali, Deputy Director, UNDP, stated that the availability of modernized carding facilities shall reduce manual labour and processing time significantly, making the craft economically viable for artisans and increase production capacity, enabling them to meet the growing domestic and international demand. This step is also expected to attract younger artisans to the trade by improving working conditions and productivity.

“This move aligns with the Government’s broader vision to revive languishing crafts, with Namdha recognized as a flagship craft. We will ensure timely refurbishment, installation and operationalization of the machine while providing necessary training to the artisans to maximize utility,” he added.

This development is expected to breathe new life into the Namdha sector, preserve its rich legacy and improve the livelihoods of hundreds of artisans dependent on this culturally significant art form, which has a huge demand, both locally as well in outside markets.

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NALSA Conference 2025

CM addresses North Zone Regional Conference of NALSA at SKICC

SRINAGAR, JULY 26: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today delivered the keynote address at the North Zone Regional Conference of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on “Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel & Tribals”held at SKICC Srinagar.

This constitutionally significant conference focuses on advancing the rights and entitlements of defence personnel and tribal communities—two segments of society that, in the Chief Minister’s words, “one defends the Constitution with unflinching resolve” and the other has “long waited for its full embrace.”

Addressing the audience at SKICC, CM said that this Regional Conference was of great  significance to deliberate and collectively reflect on the foundational promise of our Republic for realization of justice—social, economic, and political which is enshrined in the preamble and concretised in Article 39A of our Constitution, which enjoins the State to ensure that access to justice is not curtailed by economic or other disabilities.



 Paying tribute to the service and sacrifices of defence personnel, many of whom hail from Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for swift, compassionate legal redressal for those serving in inhospitable terrains under difficult circumstances. He highlighted the systemic legal barriers faced by defence personnel in matters such as pension disputes and service-related grievances owing to their geographic remoteness, and the distinct constraints of military life.

CM commended the J&K State Legal Services Authority for its initiative in amending its legal aid rules to expressly include serving and retired defence personnel. CM said that establishment of dedicated legal aid clinics in cantonments and in districts with significant ex-servicemen populations should be prioritised. “Equally important is the need to ensure that families of defence personnel—particularly widows, aged parents, and dependent children—receive empathetic, expert, and timely legal support,” CM said, adding that para-legal volunteers trained specifically in military legal issues should be deployed in areas with high defence populations. Simultaneously, technology must be harnessed to democratise access—through mobile apps, virtual consultation platforms, and user-friendly legal information portals. Justice, in our times, must not merely be available—it must be accessible.

On tribal communities, CM said that they were custodians of rich cultural and ecological heritage.  Jammu & Kashmir is home to several Scheduled Tribes, including Gujjars, Bakarwals, Pahadis, Gaddis and Sippis, who have preserved ancient traditions while braving difficult terrains.

 “Our Government has correspondingly augmented its developmental efforts. This year, the capital expenditure for tribal welfare has been raised to ₹98 crores. Six Eklavya Model Residential Schools have been made operational, 222 smart classrooms have been established in tribal-dominated schools, and healthcare services have been expanded through mobile medical units. The Tribal Research Institute has also been commissioned. These interventions reflect our commitment to combine dignity with development. Yet, development alone cannot substitute justice. Structural barriers to legal literacy, representation, and redressal continue to persist among tribal populations—owing to linguistic, cultural, and geographic factors.

CM noted that the Legal Services Authority has commendably operationalised 255 legal aid clinics, including in tribal villages and correctional institutions, supported by 527 panel lawyers and 561 para-legal volunteers.

CM expressed the hope that para-legal volunteers are trained from within tribal communities themselves. “This will ensure that legal support is rendered in familiar idioms, dialects, and cultural frameworks. We must also expand mobile legal aid vans, promote the use of Tele-Law platforms, and facilitate virtual hearings. Justice, if it is to be meaningful, must reach every remote hamlet—from Poonch to Kishtwar, from Rajouri to Karnah,” he said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also spoke about the sensitive balance that must be maintained between national security and the rights of tribal citizens. Many tribal regions are located in border belts or areas of heightened security oversight. However, law enforcement must not translate into legal disenfranchisement. Mechanisms for lodging complaints, accessing courts, and redressing grievances must be made transparent, timely, and responsive.

CM said that Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms also offer immense promise. Lok Adalats, mediation centres, and village-level panchayat forums, when duly sensitised, can provide swift, culturally respectful adjudication—especially in matters related to land rights, service entitlements, and local grievances. These models need to be institutionalised and resourced accordingly.

CM stated that capacity-building is essential for Judicial officers, legal aid lawyers, and field functionaries who must be trained in tribal customary law, military jurisprudence, and the ethics of constitutional service. Only through sustained cross-learning can our justice system be truly responsive to the diversity it is meant to serve.

Highlighting the Government’s vision, the Chief Minister informed that his Government has sanctioned establishment of a dedicated Law University in Jammu and Kashmir with an initial allocation of ₹50 crore. This institution will focus on specialized legal education and research in fields such as tribal law, military justice, constitutional studies, and environmental law.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the Chief Minister concluded, “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” He reaffirmed the Government’s unwavering support to Legal Services Authorities and their partners in delivering justice to the most marginalised

The conference was also addressed by Justice Surya Kant Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman NALSA; Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State Ministry of Law and Justice Government of India; Manoj Sinha Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and Kashmir; Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of High Court of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; Justice Sanjeev Kumar Executive Chairman J&K Legal Services Authority; Justice Sindhu Sharma Executive Chairperson, Ladakh Legal Services Authority; Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command.

The conference was attended by the members of the Judiciary, Mian Altaf Member of Parliament, members of the Armed Forces, representatives of the Tribal Communities, Senior Officers of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and other States, and members of the Legal Fraternity.

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Launches renovation, upgradation works under heritage conservation scheme

SRINAGAR, JULY 19: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, on Saturday visited the ancient Vicharnag Temple, a site of historical and religious significance, in Nowshera area of Srinagar city.

The visit was aimed at to take onsite appraisal of the works being taken up for revival, restoration and conservation of the monumental asset under  government’s initiative of preserving the rich cultural and architectural heritage.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Akshay Labroo and Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Faz Lul Haseeb accompanied the Chief Secretary during the visit.

On the occasion, the Chief Secretary kick started the renovation and restoration works of the ancient Vicharnag temple, also known as 'Vichar Sahab’.

The Chief Secretary, while reviewing different project components at the site, directed the officers to execute the works at fast pace, strictly adhering to the set timelines and quality of the work as envisioned under the project guidelines.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary emphasized that the renovation and conservation work on the prestigious project is aimed to restore the temple's centuries old past glory and preserve its cultural and architectural legacy.

The Chief Secretary said that the Vicharnag temple holds significant historical, cultural and religious importance, reflecting Kashmir's diverse cultural society. He expected that the renovation work will revive and preserve the temple's aesthetic, heritage and social values.

On the occasion, the public, particularly the members of Pandit community from various parts of the country participated in the event and sought blessings from Shri Vichar Sahab.

Earlier, the Chief Secretary was apprised that the work on the project is being executed by R&B Srinagar at a cost of Rs 4.58 crore which included conservation and restoration of the main Temple structure, earth filling around the temple precincts to restore the site's original topography, construction of entry gate to provide a formal and aesthetic look, construction of toilet block, desilting of egress channel up to Gilsar Lake to be undertaken by the Irrigation & Flood Control Department.

The restoration works also include the use of traditional lime mortar and Budloo/Fir wood, ornamental wood and stone work preserving original aesthetics, grills, signage, and landscape integration to enhance the visual appeal of the temple. The project is planned to be completed within one year, i.e., by July 2026.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Aadil Fareed, Chief Planning Officer, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, senior Officers from R&B, PHE, PDD, I&FC, SMC, Police, Revenue and other concerned departments were present on the occasion.

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Reviews performance of School Education Department

SRINAGAR, JULY 19: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the School Education Department to take stock of the teaching scenario and implementation of other education reforms in the Union Territory.

The meeting besides Secretary, School Education Department was attended by PD, Samagra Shiksha; Director, School Education, Kashmir/Jammu; Secretary, JKBOSE and other concerned officers of the department.

The Chief Secretary stressed on further improving the quality of education in government schools, highlighting the department's substantial budget of approximately Rs 11,000 crore that should commensurate with the quality of education imparted.

Dulloo underscored the pivotal role of teachers, stating that "none of the infrastructural or technological upgradation would bear fruits unless the teachers do not play their roles in an efficient manner." He further remarked that there is no alternative to the dedication and creativity of teachers in teaching the students.

The Chief Secretary emphasized the critical need to monitor the teacher punctuality and time spent in classrooms. He called for use of IT tools to identify teachers demonstrating a lackadaisical approach, tardiness or unauthorized departure from schools for personal matters. He directed that teacher salaries be linked to their school attendance and lawfully availed leave. He was informed that JK Attendance App, a geo-coordinates-based face recognition attendance system, has already been implemented, with 1.14 lakh employees actively marking their attendance.

The Chief Secretary enjoined upon the senior functionaries of the department to conduct surprise visits, both physical and virtual, to schools, especially in remote areas, to assess the staff presence and teaching effectiveness.

Dulloo stressed the importance of utilizing the modern infrastructure such as ICT labs, Computer-Aided Learning (CAL) labs, smart classrooms, Atal Tinkering Labs and other available resources. He directed the department's IT team to develop a dashboard for daily monitoring of IT infrastructure usage in each school. Currently, 1420 CAL Centers and 2036 ICT Labs and 4272 Smart Classrooms are fully operational across the UT.

Regarding vocational education, the Chief Secretary impressed upon the department for regular handholding and support to the vocational learners until they secure placements in the job market. Over 141,000 students from classes 9th to 12th were said to be currently enrolled in 15 different trades imparted in the schools.

Dulloo directed the department to exercise caution and make thorough preparation before adopting the ECCE model, emphasizing the extensive groundwork required for merging pre-primary education with childhood care in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department. He asked for appointment of nodal officers for each zone to ensure the feasibility of such mergers and prevent difficulties for children seeking admissions.

It was informed that Pre-primary classes are scheduled to be initiated in 15,550 schools and 13,804 AAYAs/helpers have been engaged in schools with ECCE sections.

The Chief Secretary reviewed the progress on various works under different schemes, including establishment of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), Girls Hostels, modern infrastructure and particularly the PM SHRI scheme  in designated schools across the Union Territory.

While throwing light on the overall educational landscape of J&K, Secretary, SED, Ram Niwas Sharma, revealed that 20 districts had been distributed into 188 Education Zones (Jammu: 97, Kashmir: 91) for managing the affairs of the department.

He also revealed that the literacy rate (UT, NSO Survey 2017) has been shown as 77.30% across the UT. He added that J&K has total schools strength of 24,137 (18,724 Govt. and 5,413 Pvt. + Other) with a cumulative enrolment of 2,617,817 students (1356838 in Govt+ 1260979 in Pvt Institutions) from Primary to Higher Secondary level.

The meeting was also apprised that the total budgetary allocation for the department for FY 2025-26 is Rs. 11,356.43 crore (including UT Capex and CSS)  with an overall approved budget allocation of Rs. 13,492.27 crore. It was added that the expenditure on each enrolled student in a government school accrues to around Rs 1 lakh/year which is much higher than the national average.

It was further divulged that in J&K 396 schools had been selected for being taken up under PM SHRI programme.

Regarding the Vidhya Samiksha Kendra, it was informed that it has fully been completed and operational in Jammu, ensuring data-driven decision-making and improved educational outcomes. Four chat bots (Smart Attendance J&K, J&K Study Buddy, Field Monitoring Bot, J&K Parent Pulse Bot) have been rolled out, so far, from there.

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SRINAGAR, JULY 19 – In a major fillip to Kashmir’s famed craft sector, hand-made products worth ₹309.62 Cr have been exported to various overseas destinations in the First Quarter of the current financial year, up from ₹126.90 Cr in the same quarter last year.

As per figures made available by the concerned financial institutions, exports have recorded a huge jump of 243% and is the highest for Q1 in last four years.

In a press statement issued here today, a spokesperson from the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, stated that the Department is targeting craft exports of over Rs.1500 Cr during the current FY, provided global conflicts relent. “Higher exports of craft products to overseas destinations secures the welfare of Kashmir's famed artisans and weavers,” he said.      

Last year, craft products worth ₹733.59 Cr were exported, largely affected due to various global conflicts. “While Kani, Sozni shawls and hand-knotted carpets continue to lead exports, the other products exported include crewel, papier mache, chain stitch and wood carving items,” he added. 

The spokesman urged the exporters to avail Export Subsidy Scheme notified by the Government, which provides incentive of 10% of the total volume of GI registered handloom/ handicraft export products to any country with maximum reimbursement up to ₹5.00 crore in favour of eligible exporters registered with the Department,” he explained.    

Highlighting the Government’s strategy for welfare of artisan community, the spokesman further stated that the Department has a well-established Design Studio in the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology at Bagh-e-Ali Mardan Khan and unique prototypes conceived by the School of Designs and Craft Development Institute. “We urge the business stakeholders to access these designs and packaging models to add value to their products in high-end global markets,” he added.

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SRINAGAR, JULY 03: The Department of Cooperatives today organized a Divisional Level function at Tagore Hall here to commemorate the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, as declared by the United Nations under the global theme: ‘Cooperatives Build a Better World’.

Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Mohammad Shafiq Chak was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Registrar Cooperative Societies highlighted the transformative power of cooperatives in building a sustainable and economically viable society. He said that cooperatives are more than economic enterprises and are value-driven organizations built on solidarity and mutual support.

The Registrar also spoke about the roadmap for cooperative movement in Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on digital integration, capacity building, financial literacy, and easier access to credit facilities for grassroots organizations.


In his welcome address, Additional Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Kashmir, Bashir Ahmad Wani highlighted the vital role of cooperatives in driving sustainable economic development, inclusive growth, and youth empowerment within the Union Territory.

He shared the department’s vision for the cooperative movement in Jammu and Kashmir and emphasized the revival of primary cooperative societies, particularly in agriculture, dairy, handicrafts, and rural credit—contributing to the economic upliftment of the region.

Speakers from various cooperative societies shared personal insights into how the cooperative movement has transformed their lives and positively impacted their communities, underscoring the movement’s grassroots strength and social value.

Later, the Registrar also inspected exhibition stalls set up by various cooperative societies and held brief, engaging interactions with their representatives.

The event also featured cultural performances, showcasing the cooperative ethos and community spirit unique to the region.

A special segment of the event included the felicitation of Best Performing Cooperative Societies as well as outstanding departmental officers and officials from across Kashmir Division, recognizing their contributions to the sector.

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KULGAM JULY 03: The Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRRR), in joint collaboration with the Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (UT DMA) and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Kulgam, conducted a Tabletop Exercise on Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) in District Kulgam.

The exercise was held under the supervision of Additional Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Viqar Ahmad Giri (CEO DDMA) and attended by Dr Aamir, Chief Executive Officer-ERO, DMRRR, and Sanober Jameel, Deputy Secretary, DMRRR, Civil Secretariat, J&K UT and Consultant DDMA Kulgam Mohammad Hanan.

Officers from various departments participated, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate DH Pora,  Bashir-ul-Hassan, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Reyaz Ahmad Shah, DYSP  Ayoub Rather, Civil Defence and SDRF in-charge, Engineers from all concerned departments, CRPF Officers, Tehsildars of all Tehsils, along with teams from SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, Aapda Mitra Volunteers, and other disaster response units.

During the session, Dr Aamir emphasized the importance of preparedness and proposed the execution of mock drills near Kousarnag Lake, a potential GLOF risk site. 

He stressed the need for the deployment of medical teams during drills, the formation of additional volunteer groups, and the active involvement of all stakeholders in strengthening community-level disaster response.

The initiative reflects the administration's proactive approach toward GLOF disaster preparedness and resilience-building in vulnerable areas of South Kashmir.

The exercise simulated multiple disaster scenarios to test the preparedness and response capabilities of all agencies involved. 

Detailed deliberations were held on communication strategies, evacuation procedures, and the deployment of critical emergency response units.

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