Kashmir: The Namda craft of Kashmir will be greatly preserved and revived thanks to the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 3.0 and its component, Recognition of Prior Learning for upskilling of craftsmen and weavers of Kashmir.
More than 2000 people from 30 Namda Clusters in six Kashmiri districts Srinagar, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam, and Anantnag will benefit from the Namda programme. The RPL effort aims to upskill about 11,000 Jammu and Kashmiri weavers and artisans. Instead of weaving, the Namda craft method uses felting to create rugs from sheep’s wool.
The Central Government has created a short-term training curriculum to preserve this endangered craft through this unique project under PMKVY, of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Earlier, the export of this craft had decreased.