Stipend for handloom & handicrafts trainees in Ladakh hiked from Rs 40 per day to Rs 150 per day

AMMU

Lieutenant Governor  Vinai Kumar Saxena has substantially enhanced the daily stipend of trainees enrolled in the handloom and handicrafts training centres across Ladakh to Rs 150 per day, from just Rs 40 per day earlier.

This marks a hike of nearly 275% in the daily stipend of these trainees.

This landmark decision, taken for the first time in Ladakh, aims to encourage youth participation in traditional crafts and strengthen livelihood opportunities for local youth and artisans.

 This significant hike is aimed at providing greater financial support to trainees during their training period, making traditional craft training more lucrative for local men and women and encouraging them to take up handloom and handicrafts as viable and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The Lieutenant Governor, on June 1, had visited a training Centre at Hanley in Changthang district, where the issue of low stipend was brought to his attention.

During a subsequent review meeting of the Industries & Commerce Department chaired by the Lieutenant Governor on  June 15, the issue of enhancing the stipend was specifically deliberated upon. L-G Saxena, who found the existing stipend to be abysmally low, directed the Department to examine the feasibility of revising the stipend to Rs 150 per day, in consultation with the Finance Department.

Upon examination, the Finance Department concurred with the Lieutenant Governor’s suggestions and accordingly proposed to enhance the stipend to Rs 150 per day, which was finally approved by the LG.

It may be noted that nearly 1000 trainee artisans are currently enrolled with the Handloom and Handicrafts Training Centres in Leh and Kargil. These trainees are undergoing training in carpet making, Pabu shoe making, knitting, weaving, tailoring and wood carving, etc. 

Saxena said this decision is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for empowering the local artisans, strengthening the traditional crafts and contributing to making India self-reliant. He noted that the increase in stipend is expected to further motivate people to take up such traditional crafts training. He said this would further provide trainees with greater financial assistance towards the expenses associated with attending training centres, thereby reducing the financial constraints that may discourage young people from joining or continuing craft training programmes.

“Ladakh’s handloom and handicrafts are not only a part of our rich cultural heritage but also an important source of livelihood and economic opportunity. We must ensure that our traditional skills are passed on to the younger generation and that our youth see these crafts as dignified and viable livelihood opportunities,” said  Saxena.