Handicraft industry is the backbone of the Kashmir econonmy. These handicraftsmen inherited their skills and small businesses from their forefathers. They were self employed, as there are not sufficient government jobs in Kashmir.
The recent natural calamity in Kashmir has resulted in unbearable losses to the handicraftsmen. Many of them are ruined. Most of them could not afford to insure their goods, which were lost in the floods. They have to pay back loans to the banks, suppliers, etc and wages to their artisans, which they are unable to do.
Urgent measures are now necessary by the state and central government to save the Kashmiri handicraft industry
