SRINAGAR, SEPT 30: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday felicitated artisans at the Pashmina Artisan Awards 2026, organised by the Pashmeena Entrepreneurs Makers and Artisans (PEMA) Foundation in Srinagar, and assured the artisan community of sustained government support to protect Kashmir’s traditional crafts, ensure fair remuneration and expand their access to national and international markets.
Congratulating the award winners and the PEMA Foundation, the Lieutenant Governor said the ceremony was not merely a felicitation programme but a celebration of Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural prosperity and the generations of artisans whose patience, skill and devotion have given the region’s crafts global recognition.
Invoking the spirit of Bhagwan Vishwakarma, the divine embodiment of craftsmanship, Sinha said India has traditionally regarded artisanship as sacred knowledge and stressed that the true prosperity of a society is reflected in the artistry of its weavers and craftswomen.
“Every Pashmina shawl, Kani and Sozni embroidery is a living heritage, shaped by patience and devotion,” the Lieutenant Governor said, underlining the painstaking work that goes into preserving the traditional craft.
Paying special tribute to women artisans, Sinha said they have played a central role across the Pashmina value chain, from refining raw fibre to carrying out intricate embroidery.
He described them as the “silent creators” and custodians of the tradition, saying that empowering women artisans would simultaneously safeguard Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural legacy and strengthen the confidence of future generations.
“Honouring women artisans safeguards our legacy and empowers future generations. Their hands carry India’s cultural memory to the world and the nation stands committed to their dignity, fair remuneration and global recognition,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor recalled the earlier editions of the Pashmina Artisan Awards held in 2023 and 2025, describing them as significant milestones for the artisan community.
He said the 2026 edition marked another important step, with particular emphasis on recognising women artisans whose craftsmanship has contributed substantially to the global prestige of Kashmir’s Pashmina.
Sinha assured artisans of the Government of India’s commitment in four key areas — fair remuneration and protection of Geographical Indication (GI) tags; access to global markets through e-commerce, exhibitions and digital platforms; skill development and welfare, including healthcare, social security and modern design training; and financial inclusion through initiatives such as MUDRA, Credit Card Scheme and Karkhandar training programmes.
He said the handloom and handicrafts sector currently provides economic security to around 4.60 lakh artisans and their families in Jammu and Kashmir. He also highlighted the recognition of 18 crafts with GI tags and the development of a QR-based system aimed at helping establish the authenticity of traditional products.
Urging artisans to embrace modern opportunities without compromising traditional excellence, the Lieutenant Governor said the administration and PEMA Foundation would continue working together to strengthen the craft sector, improve opportunities for artisans and connect their products with wider markets.
“You should never feel that your work is ordinary. What you are doing is a form of devotion, an act of creation and a noble effort to keep India’s cultural memory alive,” Sinha said.
He added that an original Pashmina product from Jammu and Kashmir carried by a person anywhere in the world represents not merely a piece of clothing but a part of India’s culture and history.
Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Vikramjit Singh; former Chairperson, J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board, Dr Hina Shafi Bhat; Director, Handloom and Handicrafts Kashmir, Masrat-ul-Islam; President, PEMA Foundation, Tariq Dar; senior officials, members of the PEMA Foundation and a large number of artisans attended the felicitation ceremony.
