JAMMU, Aug 7: Marking National Handloom Day, celebrated annually on August 7, heritage conservationist Dr. Satwant Singh Rissam, Additional Co-Convenor of the INTACH Jammu Chapter, paid tribute to the weavers and artisans whose dedication, craftsmanship, and creativity continue to preserve India’s rich cultural heritage.
Describing handloom as more than just a means of livelihood, Dr. Rissam said it represents a living legacy of tradition, self-reliance, sustainability, and the civilizational memory of communities across the country. He emphasised that the handloom traditions of Jammu and Kashmir are an invaluable part of the region’s cultural identity and require urgent, sustained institutional support.
Expressing concern over the challenges confronting the sector, Dr. Rissam noted that traditional weavers are increasingly under pressure from mechanised production, imitation products, shrinking market opportunities, and the gradual decline in the transfer of traditional skills to younger generations. He urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to take concrete measures to safeguard and revitalise the sector by expanding national and international marketing avenues for artisans.
He further stressed the need for more effective implementation of existing welfare schemes and their extension to deserving artisans in both rural and urban clusters to ensure inclusive development of the handloom community.
To secure the future of the sector, Dr. Rissam proposed the formulation of a Jammu and Kashmir Handloom Revival and Heritage Protection Plan. The proposed roadmap includes district-level mapping of traditional crafts, documentation of endangered weaving traditions, youth apprenticeship programmes, establishment of common facility centres, branding and promotion of authentic J&K handloom products, and the creation of a permanent artisan support and promotion cell to facilitate access to finance, skill development, and wider markets.
He said that preserving the handloom sector is essential not only for sustaining livelihoods but also for protecting the region’s unique cultural heritage for future generations.