News Excerpt: 

The World Crafts Council International (WCCI) working on the recognition and preservation of traditional crafts across the globe, has picked Srinagar for mapping its craft clusters before its final nomination as the World Craft City (WCC) from India this year. 

More about the news:

• A three-member team from the WCCI is currently in Srinagar to inspect craft clusters, the processes involved, and the status of artisans.
• The team has inspected several clusters where artisans were working on local crafts like Pashmina shawls, carpets, papier mâché, etc.
• The WCCI evaluates cities based on parameters like how crafts have kept themselves alive, initiatives in place for artisans, and the age-old practices involved.
• Srinagar is currently one of the probable cities in India for the WCC tag, and the final announcement is likely in the next two months.
• The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage-Kashmir (INTACH-Kashmir)  is collaborating with the J&K Handicrafts department to map the craft sector ahead of the final nomination.
• The WCC recognition would put a spotlight on the processes and mean global acknowledgment and visibility of Srinagar's crafts.

About Kashmir’s craft: 

• Kashmir’s craft is mostly influenced by Central Asian countries, Kashmir is home to centuries-old practices of handicrafts.
• According to the official data, Srinagar spread over 416 square kilometers, has a registered artisan base of 20,822 craftsmen, who are involved in multiple disciples of papier mâché, walnut wood carving, hand-knotted carpet, Kani shawl, Khatamband, pashmina, Sozni craft, etc. 
• The total craft-related workforce in Srinagar stands at 1.76% approximately. 
• The contribution of handicrafts to the overall economy of J&K stood at 2.64% by 2016-17.