A Udhampur-based couple in Jammu and Kashmir is revitalising bamboo craft industry of the UT.

Engaged in the age-old craft, Meena Devi and her husband Bishan Dass have not only revived this traditional art form but have also embraced modernisation with the latest machines provided by the administration, reported ANI.

According to reports, their initiative is aided strongly by the Jammu and Kashmir administration's Karkhandar scheme.

The scheme aims at reviving fading crafts and promoting the overall development of the craft sector in the Union Territory.

Under this scheme, the Udhampur-based artisans have received state-of-the-art machines, significantly reducing the time required for bamboo crafting and increasing their earning potential. This initiative, known for promoting ‘Golden Hands’ and contributing to India's self-reliance, has breathed new life into the traditional craft, ANI reported.

Speaking on the use of machines in implementing the art, Meena told the Indian news agency: "Earlier the work was done by hand but now machines are being used. My husband and I are engaged in this work. Earlier there were problems regarding the arrangement of bamboo but today it is available everywhere."

“I retired in 2018 and since then I have been engaged in the handicraft work with my wife. We have trained 10 women in this craft," she said.