Srinagar, Sep 10 (KNO): Calling Pashmina “India’s gold standard fibre”, Union Textiles Secretary, Neelam Shami Rao on Wednesday said the government is committed to protecting its purity and sanctity.
Rao was speaking during the inauguration at SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama and IICT, Srinagar, where she distributed Modified Modern Steel Carpet Looms to artisan clusters. She called for enhanced testing infrastructure, unified branding and greater support for Kashmir artisans.
Addressing the gatherings, the Secretary, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), called for a vibrant testing and certification ecosystem for Pashmina and other animal fibres.
“Certification, numbering, and coding must be smarter so that every labelled product is traceable. In the next two to three years, we should have reliable data on genuine Pashmina products entering the market,” she said.
Rao said the Ministry would work closely with Customs, BIS and the Ministry of Environment and Forest to evolve a consensus-driven solution balancing industry requirements with wildlife and animal rights concerns.
The Union Textiles Secretary called for expanding testing infrastructure closer to production areas to reduce logistical challenges.
“We do not want your products to travel to Dehradun, Delhi, or Hong Kong for testing. The capacity of existing labs must be augmented, and if more labs are required, the Textiles Ministry will infuse additional funds,” she said.
On branding, Rao outlined the “Bharat Ka Fabric” initiative, integrating GI tagging and certification under a single label.
“Pashmina is not just a Kashmir story; it is India’s story. We will promote it globally through multi-forum branding, sourcing magazines and digital platforms,” she added.
Highlighting artisan welfare, Secretary Rao said artisans receive only a small fraction of the final market value of their products. We must create mechanisms that protect their livelihood and preserve the art form, she said.
“What is specialised must remain a high-value segment and be promoted as a luxury. Protecting and empowering workers is critical because if the artisan perishes, the art perishes,” she said.
Rao also called for better access to raw materials, design support, upskilling opportunities, and improved earnings for artisans—(KNO)