The third defence, ITTA (Indian Technical Textile Association) Joint Seminar cum exhibition was inaugurated by Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Textiles, Govt of India, on May 22 at Manekshaw Centre. General Bipin Rawat, the Army Chief and senior officials from the Defence Services, MoD, MHA and Industry were present at the function.
The seminar included topics related to upliftment in personal and protective clothing along with building, medical and geo textiles. Special snow socks, HAPO chambers, snow goggles, thermal insoles and ruck sacks that are used at Siachen Glacier and other super high altitude areas will be manufactured in India of at a much cheaper price without effecting the quality.
The Minister of Textiles talked about the need to explore the advanced R&D facilities for improving the existing inventory of the Army. She assured assistance from the Ministry, while reiterated the need for the industry to explore various business models and joint ventures. She further talked about the distinction between ‘supplying’ and ‘serving’ and how the industry should strive to ‘serve our defence forces’. The scope of NTC (National Technical Cooperation) supplying their vast product range to the Army was also discussed.
Genral Bipin Rawat shared that the joint initiatives between the Textile Ministry, MoD and industry taht will assume great significance if the principal items of Ordnance Equipment Factory (OEF) will be offered to the Trade on a permanent basis over the next 3 to 5 years.
lt Gen RR Nimbhorkar, Master General of Ordnance (MGO) apprised the delegates of specific areas where improvements were needed. He urged the industry for early indigenisation of the three layered special suits, sleeping bags, boots, muti-purpose and modular gloves that are being used in the super high altitude areas besides products improvement for Extreme Cold Clothing (ECC), mattress kapok, face mask, etc. The MGO reiterated that the industry has a lot of scope for participating in the Rs 3000 crore general stores and clothing requirements.
Mr Pramod Khosla, Chairman ITTA and Dr KS Sundararajan, Vice Chairman, ITTA assured the Army officials of their constant support. Stalls from various business houses dealing with technical textiles and Army’s present clothing and general stores inventory were exhibited.