Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti calling for development of traditional arts and crafts as employment avenues for the local youth has some logic as far skill development plan is concerned. Traditional arts and crafts are dying in such a situation turning them as employment creators not only would provide the skill for the youth but help in reviving them and make them financially viable for both government and youth who are undergoing the training. Government needs to make these heritage arts like shawls, carpets, paper machie, wood carving, Basohli crafts and Ladakhi craftsmanship reachable to the people and incentivize so that youth get motivated to take up these high-value crafts as a means of livelihood and at the same time contribute towards State’s economic growth. Success of such endeavour would be on the coordinated approach to skill development at the local level, involving partners from different sectors including education, training, industry and NGOs to balance supply and demand for skills. “The government has asked the Education Department to start part-time skill development courses in traditional crafts in schools and colleges to attract the youth towards distinct heritage arts of the State,” she said and added that the Skill Development Initiative is still in infancy and a lot needs to be done to draw the desired results from this ambitious programme. Development of local skill strategies so that the skills supply matches the demand is the priority and weaving in market driven development which can take the development of traditional crafts further with lesser government involvement. For this roping in of private sector players and government assurance on adequate promotion and marketing facilities with financial support is needed to revive these heritage arts which are otherwise facing severe pressure and competition and are literally dying.
