Union Minister for Textiles, Giriraj Singh, visited Kargil on October 6, making stops at the Kargil headquarters, Drass Subdivision, and Heniskote. During his visit, he interacted with women entrepreneurs in the handloom sector, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) members, and various stakeholders.

The Minister engaged with Pashmina growers and artisans in Heniskote and Drass and paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1999 Kargil War at the Drass War Memorial.

During his interactions, he encouraged local entrepreneurs and SHGs, particularly in developing the pashmina sector. He emphasized the Indian government's commitment to serving the people of Ladakh by bringing governance to their doorsteps.Giriraj Singh noted significant improvements in Ladakh since its transition to a Union Territory, including enhanced water supply, road and telecom connectivity, and job creation.

Deputy Commissioner/CEO of LAHDC, Kargil, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse; Senior Superintendent of Police, Shree Ram R; District Sheep Husbandry Officer, Dr. Mohd Ismail; Assistant Director of Handloom, Dr. Kacho Niyazul Hassan; and other officials accompanied the Minister during the visit.

Speaking to women artisans, the Minister reiterated the Ministry's commitment to providing dedicated marketing spaces in Delhi and other major cities to showcase their work. He also highlighted the RWANDA model, which focuses on expanding livelihoods through the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) and increasing the population of pashmina-yielding sheep through improved sheep husbandry practices.

During the event, a woman entrepreneur and other stakeholders submitted a memorandum requesting additional handloom and handicraft training and protective shelters for livestock from brown bears.

The Minister also interacted with mushroom producers, expressing optimism about their progress. He urged officials to involve more women in mushroom cultivation and create clusters to boost production.