Kashmir chamber wants to end ban on Shahtoosh

The apex business chamber of the valley, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), demanded lifting of ban on shahtoosh. It has not been over two weeks time that the new president KCCI, Abdul Hamid Punjabi has taken charge of one of the oldest business chambers of the state. The new president today told Kashmir Times that the chamber has been insisting the state government and New Delhi to take away ban on the shahtoosh trade. "It has been over a decade now and we have been advocating for removal of ban on the trade," he said. The annual turnover of the shahtoosh trade was over Rs 120 crore. Over 30,000 families were depending on the trade. "The ban has brought miseries to the shahtoosh weavers, traders and their families and these families are facing starvation,"he said.

The KCCI had earlier sent a recommendation to the state government on lifting ban on the trade however, have not heard any from the state till date. "This is a mater of grave concern for us. The concerned agencies should find a solution to the problem at earliest. There is hardly a day when affected families especially poor women come to our office to express their hardship,"Hamid Punjabi said and added "We would try our best to take away the ban to bring respite to 600 year old industry."Kashmir Shawl industry is famous in the world. Shahtoosh are so fine that an average size shawl can be passed through a wedding ring. "We have world famous artisans associated with the trade and the state of art embroidery on shawls in unique in the world," he added.The ban has led to the demise of the skill of the Kashmir weavers, who were the only ones in the world who could handle the fibre, he added. "China has vested interest in the ban as they are not able to handle the wool from Tibetan antelope," he said. Giving the details Hamid Punjabi said the population of the Tibetan antelope has been found dwindling and the Convention on  International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), listed it as endangered specie in the 1970s. "The government of India enacted this in schedule I of the wild life Act without giving reservation, which was within the scope of CITES. States Shahtoosh shawl sector was not consulted," he said. The selling of shahtoosh was made illegal in all countries that signed the CITES.

However, since J&K had its own wild life Act as such it continued to be in schedule II allowing trading of Shahtoosh. "Free trading within the state could not help in survival of the industry as the major outlets were the outside markets which come under enforcement of wild life Act prohibiting the sale," he added. In 2005 the government of India constituted an expert group to look into the issues relating to shahtoosh trade. The group was of the view that lifting ban would mean killing of antelopes. However, in the meeting Dr A M Mir had argued that the shahtoosh fiber used in making shawls comes from live chirus and not from dead animals because  according to him the fiber obtained from the dead animals is useless and can't be converted into shawls. The wild life societies are of the opinion that antelope from which shahtoosh wool is derived is most endangered specie and wool is derived from killing the animal. However, Hamid Punjabi says that the wool shedding is a biological process. Like other animals of cold climate, the Tibetan antelope also sheds their thick winter coats when ambient temperature rises with onset of winter. "Dead wool is of no use in the shahtoosh shawl production," he said. The government should look for the options of setting commercial farming. "Captive breeding has not been attempted till date," he added.

The antelope lives at an altitude of 14-17,000 feet. In winter months due to lack of vegetation chiru move down to the plains. It is here they share pastures with domestic live stock and are near human habitation, he said.

Jammu observes total shutdown on Fdi

Demanding rollback of central government’s decision of allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector, traders and shopkeepers of entire Jammu city today observed near total shutdown on the call given by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Jammu and supported by political and business organisations.

All the business establishments including shops and malls remained closed throughout the day as the traders’ fraternity protested against FDI in retail sector. They observed complete shut down in support of ‘Bharat Bandh’ call given by Confederation of All India Traders and Bharat Udyog Vyapar Mandal.

Protest demonstrations were also organized by various political organizations while Confederation of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a protest rally in the city. Huge deployment of police was made outside the newly opened ‘Best Price Shop’ (a Bharti-Walmart joint venture) to avoid any untoward incident.

All the main markets Kanak Mandi, Ware House, Hari Market, Pacca Danga, Raghunath Bazar, Gumat, Jain Bazar, Talab Tillo, Bakshi Nagar, Channi, New Plots, Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar while many other small markets in the entire city remained closed throughout the day.

Refuting the claims of central government of providing 40 lakh employment in the next three years Senior Vice president of CCI, Tara Chand Gupta asked, what about the four Crore people engaged in the retail chain of the country, who would be rendered jobless after the establishment of outlets of multinational companies?“Thousands of graduate and post-graduate degree holder youths have opened retail shops due to less job opportunities. After the opening of MNCs’ retail outlets, the unemployment problem would multiply and the government would have no alternative.

The entire Indian economy would collapse in the coming years if the central government did not roll back the decision of allowing 100 percent FDI in single brand retail and 51 percent equity in multi-brand retail sector,” he averred.

He said the track record of these MNCs showed that whenever and wherever FDI was allowed, it resulted in closure of local business houses by flooding the market with cheap foreign products. “We would continue our struggle and finalize further strategy after the meeting of all chamber members,” he added.

A protest rally was organized by Confederation of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) which commenced from Bikram Chowk. Carrying placards in their hands and amid raising of slogans hundreds of protesters, demanding rollback of FDI decision, marched towards City Chowk.

CITU state general secretary and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami while addressing the protesters at City Chowk, termed the decision of Union government as anti-people which would render 4.4 Crore retailers of the country jobless. “FDI would snatch the livelihood of small retailers in the entire country including J&K where thousands of shopkeepers and retailers have opened shops as a means of livelihood due to lack of job opportunities,” he said.

Tarigami said that the decision of the centre would ruin the lives of millions of retailers and people engaged in the retail chain as well as the farmers due to the monopoly of MNCs on retail trade and lack of regulatory mechanism. Secretary Om Prakash, CPI (M) regional secretary Sham Prasad Kesar and Romesh Chand also addressed the rally.

Activists of Hindustan Shiv Sena (HSS) organized a protest demonstration at Hari Market. “The bandh is an eye-opener for those who are still sleeping over the issue. The protests will be intensified in the coming days if no final decision was taken by the government,” HSS national president Dimpy Kohli said.

Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha activists protested in front of the ‘Best Price Shop’ near Toph-bridge. Huge deployment of police force foiled their attempt to enter the premises of BPS. Amid chanting of slogans the protesters continued sloganeering for few minutes and left the venue. Bhartiya Janata Party activists also held a protest demonstration at Raghunath Market this morning against the decision of FDI in retail.

Complete shutdown was observed in Udhampur city while Kathua observed partial shutdown. In the other districts of Jammu region there was no impact of shutdown call given by Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In Udhampur town complete shutdown was observed over the call given by Udhampur Vayapar Mandal. All the business establishments remained closed throughout the day. The protesters assembled at Indira Chowk this morning and held protest demonstration against the decision of the centre under the chairmanship of Vayapar Mandal Pradhan. The shutdown call was also supported by Bhartiya Janta Party and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party.

In Kathua, there was mixed response to the shutdown call. Few shops were closed in Kathua city while Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha activists held a protest demonstration against the government.As per the reports pouring from other district and tehsil headquarters there was no response to the shutdown call in Samba, R S Pura, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Bhaderwah areas.