SRINAGAR – The Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom in Jammu and Kashmir has significantly enhanced its capacity for quality assurance and fibre authentication with the procurement of a state-of-the-art Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for its Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC).
The initiative aims to elevate the PTQCC into a leading centre for fibre analysis and ensure that the Geographical Indication (GI) testing and certification of Pashmina and other handwoven products meet international benchmarks.
The Chenab Times has learned that in addition to the SEM, the department has also acquired three High-Resolution Digital Microscopes. These new instruments will be deployed at the PTQCC, the Carpet Laboratory of the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), and a newly established Quality Control Laboratory. Officials anticipate these additions will boost testing capabilities, expedite processing times, and address long-standing concerns raised by GI-authorised users, traders, and the artisan community.
A spokesperson for the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom stated that SEM-based testing will facilitate precise fibre analysis, enabling a clearer distinction between genuine Pashmina and other fibres. This advanced capability is expected to safeguard the authenticity of Kashmir’s Pashmina products and combat the proliferation of misrepresentation and counterfeit goods in the market.
The procurement of this advanced equipment was funded under the Technology Support component of the National Handicrafts Development Programme, a scheme overseen by the Ministry of Textiles. Authorities indicated that these upgrades are poised to strengthen quality control mechanisms and enhance the global reputation of Jammu and Kashmir’s textile heritage, with a particular focus on Pashmina and Kani shawls.
The deployment of the new high-resolution microscopes across multiple laboratories is also projected to improve testing efficiency and substantially reduce processing delays, a critical demand from GI-authorised users and artisans.
Jammu and Kashmir currently holds GI registrations for 15 crafts, including Pashmina, hand-knotted carpets, Kani shawls, Tweed, Sozni embroidery, Chainstitch, Wagguv, Gabba, Namda, Walnut Wood Carving, and Papier Mâché. Officials further reported that documentation for six additional crafts has been completed and is slated for submission to the GI Registry in Chennai for formal registration.
The Chenab Times News Desk