Himachal to celebrate 2014 as 'Silk Year'

The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to celebrate 2014 as 'Silk Year' to commemorate the golden jubilee of the state's lone silk mill.
The process to set up a silk mill at Bodh in Nurpur area of Kangra district was started in 1963 and it was commissioned on June 9, 1964 when Kangra district was part of Punjab.
Kangra was merged with Himachal Pradesh on November 1, 1966, and three years later, the control of the unit was handed over to the Himachal Pradesh Mineral and Industrial Development Corporation (HPMIDC).
The state government plans to revive the silk industry, and the Himachal Pradesh General Industries Corporation Limited (HPGIC), which later took up the operation of the mill, has decided to add more varieties, launch innovative plans and make great offers to convert it into a profit-making unit.

"The government is making earnest efforts to bring the unit out of the red and has stepped up measures to give boost to economy of local people by imparting training and encourage their greater participation in silk processing," an official spokesman said.
The unit has achieved its all time high production last year and for the past eight months, it is being projected aggressively not only in Himachal Pradesh but also in neighbouring states to make people aware about the quality of the fabric and attractive designer products under the brand name of "Himachali Silk".
The HPGIC has already tied up with National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Kangra for technical designing in various outfits for men, women ans teenagers.