Jammu, 23/April/2020: Nidhi Sharma, Chairperson of Mukti, NGO, Jammu based voluntary organization that is working for the welfare of artisans and rural women have urged the union government and GC Murmu, the Lieutenant Governor of J & K Union Territory to release a financial package for all the registered artisans whose livelihood has been adversely hit due to ongoing Nationwide lock down due to corona pandemic.
Making a fervent appeal to UT administration and department of Industries and Commerce Department of J & K government , Nidhi asked the government to provide minimum daily wages to all the registered artisans as applicable for the skilled workers for whole the lock down period because in this lock down period the artisans are not able to either get raw material from the market to continue the production of their products nor even able to sell their ready products as markets are closed.
She said, these rural artisans are facing financial crisis as most of the artisans belong to most humble financial background and on the pattern of relief package for advocates, farmers, labours, similar kind financial package be extended to rural women and registered artisans. She also informed that as per official data of the J & K government there are 2.50 lac artisans in the J & K state (now UT) that are directly linked with Handicrafts for their livelihood and J & K’s handicraft sector fetches Rs. 1700 crore foreign exchange annually .
Sd/-
Nidhi Sharma,
Chairperson,
MUKTI, NGO. 94191_36558, 80823_14578
