/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24016885/STK093_Google_04.jpg)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24808816/Starfield__The_Settled_Systems___Supra_Et_Ultra_____Starfield__The_Settled_Systems___Supra_Et_Ultra_2023_7_25_94252.263_1440p_streamshot.png)
Arifa Jan, a woman entrepreneur from Kashmir, is working to restore the Valley’s traditional namda, a felted wool rug. He said that the traditional Namda craft was disappearing from Kashmir due to paucity of raw material and skilled labour. Jaan, who hails from Idgah Srinagar, has sold her products to various countries and collaborated with 25 artisans and trained over 100 women in Kashmir. He has also set up three production units to revive the traditional Namda. Arifa said that Namda art has enabled her to travel widely to Kyrgyzstan and the United States where her work has been highly praised.
Bachelor of Commerce from Craft Development Institute
Jan, an entrepreneur who is a commerce graduate, has done his studies at Crafts Development Institute (CDI). “After joining CDI, I got to know more about crafts and artisans. There I came to know how our crafts have declined drastically,” news agency ANI quoted Arifa as saying. While Arifa was pursuing her course at CDI, she had to go out for internships in different states.
Read also: Who is Liang Xi? Chinese millionaire who sat the toughest college entrance exam for the 27th time
Journey to revive the dying Namda craft
During that period of internship, he observed how other states have preserved their traditional crafts and noting their efforts to revive the declining craft, an idea struck him and he started working on the revival of Namda. Started. “I started the revival of Namda crafts project in 2012 and I started it with five artisans. However, after three years, 15 more artisans joined me to revive Namda’s work,” Jaan told ANI. Jaan said that he didn’t really work to earn from it. “My main motive for the revival was to keep alive the dying craft of Kashmir,” Arifa was quoted as saying by ANI.
Read also: Who is Hiroshi Suzuki? Japan’s envoy to India who loves street food, travels in Mumbai local
Recipients of Nari Shakti Puraskar
In 2020, Arifa was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar, presented to her by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. In 2018, she was also nominated as the president of the women’s wing of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and received a state award. “Apart from providing employment to 25 artisans and training over 100 women, my focus is also on increasing the wages of artisans from Rs 100 to Rs 450,” Jan said.
