Pilot project to revive Namda craft in J&K

• Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship launched two projects
• Revival of Namda craft of Kashmir as a special pilot project under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 3.0
• Upskilling of artisans and weavers of Kashmir under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), component of PMKVY.

NAMDA CRAFT

• Namda is a rug produced from sheep wool using a felting technique rather than the traditional weaving method.
• Between 1998 and 2008, the export of this craft fell by about 100 percent due to a shortage of raw materials, competent labour, and marketing tactics.

Objective

• To promote and maintain Kashmir's ancient Namda craft, as well as to upskill and certify local weavers and craftsmen in order to increase their productivity.
• The Namda project would help 2,250 individuals from 30 Namda Clusters throughout six Kashmir districts: Srinagar, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam, and Anantnag, while the RPL programme aims to upskill 10,900 craftsmen and weavers.
• It will also Focus on constantly skilling, upskilling, and reskilling local youth in order to build a career ladder for them and make them strong pillars of Modi's vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
• A similar pilot project will also be launched next month in Nagaland to skill over 4,000 artisans and weavers to generate local employment opportunities and strengthen the craft clusters.

Short Term Training

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has devised a short-term training programme to conserve this endangered craft as part of a special initiative under PMKVY.
• An industry-based training programme for Namda Crafts Production recipients who will help to preserve and revive the rich legacy linked with the unique art in Kashmir.