Design Intervention in Pashmina (J&K state) Cluster

Major clusters of Jammu and Kashmir for Pashmina weavers and embroiderers are located in Srinagar, which is also considered as a hub of clusters for Kashmir. Due to turmoil and militancy, these clusters have faced huge issues in coping with their daily livelihood. The work is so laborious but the pay is bare minimum. The people are willing to keep the tradition alive as art if one of the main sources of income, but at the same time they require funds and fair wages to keep up with the art. Due to illiteracy, remoteness and inaccessible terrain, much time they are unable to grab the right opportunities.The Kashmiri handicraft products have earned worldwide fame for their attractive designs, functional utility and high quality craftsmanship. Handicrafts sector generates substantial foreign exchange for the country, while preserving its cultural heritage. It is also an important source of incomefor seasonal agricultural labour force. The project will act as an instrument in increasing the living standard of rural people which has been stagnant for quiet a long stretch of time. The craft has a great potential, as they hold the key for sustaining not only the existing set of thousands of artisans spread over length and breadth of the state, but also for the increasingly large number of new entrants in the crafts activity.