The State Micro Small and Medium Enterprises and Khadi Gramudyog Minister Harish Chandra Durgapal has requested the Central Government to establish a National Institute of Fashion Technology in Uttarakhand. He made this request while attending the annual meet of State Textile Ministers in New Delhi.
Durgapal said that the State Government has decided to establish two mini textile parts in the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand to establish a linkage with enterprises based on local raw materials. This will also benefit handloom enterprises in the mountainous regions. For integrated development of the textile sector in Uttarakhand, under the textile park plan of the Textile ministry, the State has proposed establishment of a textile park on about 75 acre land in Jaspur, Udham Singh Nagar. He has requested the Centre for time till March 31, 2015 for submitting the detailed project report for the textile park. Under the handloom cluster development scheme the consolidation component should be continued for at least three years and the total assistance should be up to Rs30 lakh. Uttarakhand is a mountain State with low population density which limits the number of big clusters here. Stating that the group approach plan is more beneficial to Uttarakhand, he requested the Central Government to make adequate budgetary allocation for Uttarakhand under the group approach scheme.
Durgapal said that the Uttarakhand Bamboo and Fibre Development Board was formed in the State for development of natural fibres and bamboo. The board is undertaking research and development works on natural fibres in Uttarakhand with community based enterprises in clusters based on natural fibres being encouraged by the government. The cultivation of industrial hemp can be beneficial for Uttarakhand, said the minister while requesting the Centre to establish a centre of excellence for natural fibre research and product development in Uttarakhand. "The geographical conditions and possibilities in Himalayan States should be considered while drafting of textile policies and programmes so that handloom enterprises based on wool, silk and natural fibres can be encouraged and linked with modern textile industry. Transport and construction is costlier in the mountainous areas so this should also be considered during planned construction. Uttarakhand is a special category State so Central assistance for social security scheme and all handloom and handicrafts schemes should be provided in the ratio of 90:10 as provided to North Eastern States and Jammu and Kashmir," said Durgapal.