Skill India project successfully revives the dying Namda art of Jammu and Kashmir

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The Namda craft of Jammu and Kashmir was facing extinction, but has been successfully revived through the Skill India pilot project under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).

An Overview of the News

• Around 2,200 candidates from six districts of Jammu and Kashmir received training in Namda art, thereby preserving this traditional craft and empowering local weavers and artisans.

• The project demonstrates a successful Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in skill development in collaboration with local industry partners.

• The initiative was implemented in collaboration with Meer Handicrafts and the Srinagar Carpet Training and Market Centre, demonstrating the power of public-private partnerships in promoting skill development and attracting investments for economic development.

• The project was launched following Union Minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar's visit to Jammu and Kashmir in 2021, where the need to preserve and revive the vanishing traditional crafts of the region was recognised.

• The Namda craft involves making rugs from sheep's wool through felting techniques instead of traditional weaving.

About Namda Crafts

• The credit for introducing Namda to the Kashmiri people is given to a Sufi saint named Shah-i-Hamdan.

• Namda is a traditional Kashmiri craft that involves making felted carpets using sheep's wool and incorporating colourful hand embroidery.

• Unlike traditional woven carpets, Namda is made through a felting process, where the wool fibres are tangled together instead of being woven.

• The uniqueness of Namda lies in its intricate themes and floral patterns, which are inspired by nature.

• The designs often feature flowers, leaves, buds and fruits, making for a visually appealing motif.

• Namda art is not limited to Kashmir only but is also practised in many other Asian countries including Iran, Afghanistan and India.