IRCTC to promote Kashmiri dry fruits through Self Help Groups

The health nourishing walnut and other dry fruits of Jammu and Kashmir will soon be available at stations of Katra & Jammu as Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will be promoting the sale of these of these products for the benefit of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the Himalayan state.

IRCTC will create markets for the Kashmiri products by setting up units at Katra in Jammu, which would enable the SHGs in the state to sell their products from these centres.

The dry fruits will be also made available through the IRCTC’s e-commerce site, e-catering and the ‘Jan Aahar’ facilities at stations.

“To begin with, IRCTC has proposed to set up sales outlets at Katra. The dry fruits will be sold through existing as well as upcoming IRCTC units in Katra,” said IRCTC Chairman and Managing Director Dr A K Manocha.

“The outlets are designed to help the Self Help Groups and these would be selling walnut and some other dry fruits at a reasonable rate,” he added.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, while inaugurating new passenger trains in the Kashmir valley some months ago, had called for creating an e-market through IRCTC where all popular things of Kashmir, including its cuisine and handicrafts, would  be sold to popularize the state on the rail tourism map though e- commerce.

“We are adequately equipped with all the e-commerce facilities to promote the sale of Kashmiri dry fruits and other famous products of the state,” Dr Manocha said.