Textile ministry proposes incubation centre at NIFT

The Union Ministry of Textiles plans to set up an incubation centre at National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar for promoting entrepreneurship in the apparel and garment sector.

"The Union ministry has sanctioned Rs 12 crore for setting the incubation centre in Odisha where three units can operate simultaneously. The entrepreneurs will be provided plug and play facilities," Sanjay Kumar Panda, secretary, Union ministry of textiles told media persons on sidelines of inaugural ceremony of 'Design Sutra - National Workshop on Promotion of Handloom & Fashion' organised by NIFT, Bhubaneswar.

The ministry has sought three acres of land adjoining to the NIFT campus. This will be the first incubation centre attached to a NIFT campus anywhere in the country, he added.

In addition, the ministry has sanctioned Rs 10 crore to develop artisans' village at Raghurajpur in Puri district through an integrated plan. The components of the plan includes assistance, development of physical infrastructure like roads, infrastructure for tourists, assistance to artisans, working capital among others.

The village has a community of artisans who produces different varieties of handicrafts items such as Patta Chittras, palm leaf engravings, stone carvings, paper made toys and masks, wood carvings, wooden toys, cow-dung toys and tasser paintings.

Speaking on the occasion, Santosh Gangwar, Union minister of state (independent charge) for textiles requested the state government to submit proposals for setting up of textile parks in the state.

"We have amended the policies for setting up of textile parks. The states with no textile parks will be given priority. The Odisha government should send proposals for establishment of textile parks in the state. If the government suggests we can have one textile cluster in the state," he said.

Replying to media questions on a proposal from the state government, chief minister, Naveen Patnaik said, "I am sure that will be done."

The Design Sutra envisages to bring the designers and handloom weavers together for reinventing handloom with fashion, infusing new ideas for producing a wide range of products as per the liking of the customers.

"NIFT through Design Sutra encourages enthusiastic stake holders in the handlooms sector to participate and understand the problems besieging the sector. I am sure that the deliberation in the workshop will go a long way in taking the handloom to the global fashion community and help in improving the economic condition of our weavers and artisans," Patnaik said in his address at the inaugural ceremony.

Snehangini Chhuria, minister of state (independent charge), handlooms, textiles & handicrafts and Dharmendra Pradhan, Union minister of petroleum and natural gas also spoke on the occasion.