Govt proposes to open new Fashion and Textile Tech Institutes

New Delhi, Nov 28 (UNI) The Government proposes to open new Fashion and Textile Technology Institutes during the Eleventh Plan period, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Textiles E V K S Elangovan said in written reply that the new centres of National Institute of Fashion Technology are being set up subject to the conditions that the State Government is willing to provide land and financial support and fulfillment of feasibility conditions.

Decisions about the new centres are taken by NIFT Board, a Statutory body under Ministry of Textiles, as and when the proposals from State governments are received.

The Minister further informed that proposals have been received from Government of Bihar and Government of Kerala for setting up NIFT Centre in their states. No formal proposal has been received from Government of Orissa.

He further stated that proposal for setting up of NIFT Centre in Bihar has been approved by NIFT Board and the matter has been taken up with State Government for allotment of land and funding support.

Proposal for setting up of NIFT Centre in Kannur, Kerala will be placed for consideration of the Board in its next meeting, he added.

In reply to another question, Mr Elangovan said that the Government has chalked out a plan to promote Domestic Technical Textile Sector.

The Minister further informed that based on the recommendation of an Expert Committee on Technical Textiles (ECTT), the Government has approved implementation of the "Scheme for Growth and Development of Technical Textiles" (SGDTT) with a budgetary provision of Rs 48 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan.

The scheme consists of three components which include conducting baseline survey, setting up of four Centers of Excellence, one each for Agrotech, Buildtech, Geotech and Meditech, and conducting awareness programme.

Regarding the question of increasing employment avenues during the 11th Plan period, the Minister informed that employment generation could be assessed only after implementation of the Scheme.

UNI