By Tehelka Web Desk
The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, has received the prestigious SKOCH Award for its Geographical Indication (GI) QR Code Management System, an initiative aimed at strengthening authenticity, quality assurance, and traceability in the region’s handicrafts sector.
The system, implemented through the Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC) at the Craft Development Institute (CDI) and the NABL-accredited Carpet Testing Laboratory at IICT Srinagar, allows buyers to verify the origin and authenticity of GI-registered products by scanning a QR code.
Officials said the technology enables full traceability of products such as Pashmina and Kani shawls, Sozni embroidery, and hand-knotted carpets, linking them directly to the artisan or producing institution. The initiative is aimed at curbing counterfeiting while boosting consumer trust and expanding market access for local crafts.
A department spokesperson described the QR-based certification system as one of the country’s first comprehensive digital mechanisms for GI-tagged handicrafts. Thousands of products have already been labelled under the initiative, they added.
The award was received by Sajid Nazir, Senior Faculty at CDI, on behalf of the department at a ceremony in New Delhi.
Director Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir, Mussarat Islam, said the recognition highlights the department’s efforts to preserve Kashmir’s craft heritage while improving artisans’ economic opportunities. He said the system provides artisans with better visibility and access to national and international markets.
The SKOCH Award recognises initiatives that promote innovation, governance, and inclusive development across India.
