Famous for its hand-woven designs, Kashmir’s Kani Shawl has got the Geographical Indication (GI) status that would legally prohibit people from selling the drapes made at other places under the same name.
“In order to protect the Kani Shawl, Jammu and Kashmir government has been able to register it under Geographical Indications Act in order to provide it legal protection all over the world,” Minister for Industries and Commerce Surjeet Singh Salathia told PTI.
Kani Shawl weaving originated in Kanihamal area of Kashmir valley. A project worth Rs 3 crores is in the pipeline with Indian government for development of Kani Shawl, he said.
The State government has recently held various exhibitions for Kani Shawl in Delhi.
The State government also sanctioned a testing laboratory worth Rs 4.40 crores to check the genuineness of Pashmina Kani Shawl, he said.
“With these efforts, the government is sure that Kani shawls will get the desired fillip in national and international market,” the minister said.
The handloom development department has registered a Kani Shawl Weaving Cooperative Society in Kanihama village.
A project under the Research and Design Development Scheme was sanctioned by Development Commissioner of Handlooms under Union Ministry of Textiles Government and implemented in the village to revive old shawl designs.
“To encourage weavers of Kanihama village, the Society has provided financial assistance of Rs 3.32 lakh for purchase, renovation and modernisation of looms,” Mr. Salathia said.
Two other kinds of shawls, the Pashmina and the Kashmiri Sozni have also got the GI tag, he said.
Shawls worth Rs. 87 crores were exported this financial year while the figure was Rs. 147 crores in last financial year.
