Union Minister for Textiles K S Rao has announced 10 percent rebate on purchase of yarn, which was only available for handicraft sector, shall be now available on purchase of woollen yarn as well to promote handloom sector in the country.

Responding to the demand of handloom weavers, the announcement comes in, at the need of the hour to make handicraft market driven conforming to the fast changing consumer tastes and liking.

He said that constant design development and skill upgradation will go a long way in this regard adding that Central Government's wholehearted financial and technical support would be available to the State for the purpose.

Speaking at the inaugural session of 2-days workshop and interactive session for development and promotion of handicraft of Jammu and Kashmir at J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute, the Minister said that design development and quality improvement of handicrafts was imperative to upgrade living standard of artisans even though traditional handicrafts of Jammu and Kashmir are always in high demand in the oversees countries.

The Union Minister urged to work out new strategies to explore all possible export channels adding that there is vast market for handicraft in the foreign countries. The artisans should grab this export potential keeping in view very high wage rate per hour in the developed countries. He said that availability of funds shall not be any constraint in promotion of handicraft and its export from Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Centre was open with positive frame of mind to improve the lot of artisans adding that National Centre for Design and Product Development (NCDPD) has been setup to update the handicrafts sector about the changing global scenario with reference to technical advancement.

The Union Secretary for Textiles, Zohra Chatterji said that handicraft sector is a major source of livelihood, adding that the need of the hour is to bring product diversification in it.

The export of handicraft from India has increased to Rs 4.3 billion this year against Rs 3.3 billion mark during the last fiscal.