Srinagar

The World Crafts Council International (WCCI), a Kuwait-based organisation working on recognition and preservation of traditional crafts across the globe, has picked Srinagar for mapping its craft clusters before its final nomination as the World Craft City (WCC) from India this year. 

• The WCC-World Craft City Programme, a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2014 by the World Crafts Council AISBL (WCC-International) in recognition of the pivotal role local authorities, craftspeople, and communities play in cultural, economic, and social development worldwide.
• It Showcase the reputation and assets of creative cities/regions specializing in specific craft disciplines, raw materials, articles, or a variety of crafts on a global platform.
• Promote the exchange of know-how, experiences, and best practices in various craft fields at the national, regional, and international levels.
• Srinagar has several clusters where artisans were working on local crafts like Pashmina shawls, carpets, papier mâché etc.
• Srinagar, spread over 416 square kilometres, has a registered artisan base of 20,822 craftsmen, who are involved in multiple disciples of papier mâché, walnut wood carving, hand-knotted carpet, Kani shawl, Khatamband, pashmina, Sozni craft etc.
• The total craft related workforce in Srinagar stands at 1.76% approximately.
• The contribution of the handicraft to the overall economy of J&K stood at 2.64% by 2016-17.