The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom in Kashmir is actively encouraging artisans and weavers to enroll their children and wards in a specialized two-year MBA program focused on Craft Management and Entrepreneurship. This initiative is being offered at the Craft Development Institute (CDI) in Srinagar, an institution affiliated with the University of Kashmir. The program is designed to cultivate a new cadre of professionally trained entrepreneurs who can effectively promote Kashmir’s renowned handicraft and handloom traditions in both national and international markets.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that this postgraduate course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the craft economy, integrating elements of craft, design, technology, management, and entrepreneurship. A department spokesperson highlighted that the program is poised to lay a robust foundation for craft entrepreneurship and enterprise development across Jammu and Kashmir. The department is particularly keen on attracting the younger generation from artisan and weaver families, emphasizing the significant economic and export potential inherent in the region’s traditional crafts. A professionally equipped young workforce, according to the spokesman, can be instrumental in transforming this heritage into sustainable businesses, thereby generating employment and fostering globally competitive brands.
A key incentive for prospective students is the reimbursement of tuition fees for the duration of the two-year postgraduate course, provided they meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. To avail this benefit, interested artisans and weavers will be required to submit an income certificate issued by the competent authority. The department has lauded the Craft Development Institute for its significant contributions to the handicrafts sector, noting its pivotal role in fostering professionalism, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. The spokesman further stated that alumni of CDI have successfully launched businesses rooted in Kashmir’s traditional crafts, underscoring the institute’s effectiveness in equipping students with essential skills in product development, branding, marketing, and enterprise management through its integrated approach to design, technology, and management.
The department is also in the process of establishing a “startup launch pad” for graduates of the MBA program. This initiative is intended to provide a supportive ecosystem for students to translate their acquired professional knowledge into viable craft enterprises, creating further employment opportunities within the sector. Eligible candidates, with a special emphasis on the children and wards of artisans and weavers, are urged to seize this opportunity and adhere to the stipulated admission schedule. The department has reiterated its unwavering commitment to promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and the establishment of sustainable livelihoods within the handicrafts and handloom sector, recognizing its vital economic and cultural importance to the region.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
Leave a Reply