A very few of us even belonging to J & K know about the skillful artisans especially female one belonging to Jammu’s Kishtwar district who make so many beautiful and useful handicraft products using totally biodegradable product like Prali, ( straw stubble) but unfortunately due to the apathy of the Jammu and Kashmir government and perhaps ignorance of the handicrafts department of the Union territory, this native craft of Kishtwar district could not get its due place as it should have got.
Recently I came across that these female artisans represented by one NGO of Jammu had even won appreciation and cash reward from governor of Haryana in an International Mela at Faridabad. This is really a proud moment for all of us especially those belonging to Jammu region. I have also come across that besides using Prali these female artisans also make products using waste plastic (especially polythene) and convert these polythene into useful thick circular ground sheets commonly called as Binnas in Jammu.
Through this letter I would request the handicraft department of Jammu and Kashmir UT to lend helping hands to these artisans and give them platform so that such traditional rural handicrafts of Jammu region get exposure at state, national and international level. This would also help in generating employment avenues besides curtailing pollution and turning waste into wealth.
Harasis Singh,
Karan Nagar, Jammu.