The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved the “Chief Minister’s Scheme for Introduction of Heritage Courses” under the Skill Development Department, marking a significant step toward preserving the region’s rich cultural heritage and promoting skill-based livelihoods.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s office, as per news agency KINS, said that under the scheme, seven traditional craft courses will be revived across 25 training units in various Government ITIs and Polytechnics, with a total intake capacity of 500 students.
The initiative aims to ensure that the traditional art forms of J&K are not only preserved but also transformed into sustainable means of employment for the youth.
As part of the scheme, trainees will receive monthly stipends, while instructors will be provided honorariums, encouraging both participation and quality training.
Officials said the move will strengthen J&K’s longstanding legacy in crafts such as wood carving, papier-mâché, shawl weaving, and other heritage skills, by blending traditional knowledge with modern training infrastructure.(KINS)
