To meet the growing demand of latest design, technology and skilled manpower in handloom and handicraft sector in the State, Himachal Pradesh demanded for opening of Indian Institute of Handloom Technology in Kullu District.
Member of Parliament from Mandi parliamentary Pratibha Singh called on Union Textile Minister Dr K.S.Rao in Udyog Bhawan at New Delhi and asked him to look into it. Singh said that Kullu, Chamba, Shimla, Kinnaur districts were famous for Shawls, Caps and other woollen products which had great demand in India as well as abroad. She requested the Union Government to open Centre of Excellence in Handloom Technology sector in the State so as to modernise the sector and produce world quality products in the region to open new marketing avenues at national and international market to Himachal Handloom and Handicraft sector. She also requested for opening of weaving service centres in Chamba, Rampur, Kalpa and Keylong to assist and train the local artisans for skill development.
Pratibha Singh demanded that popular Himachali woollen products designs like Kullu shawls should be included in the syllabus of National Institute of Fashion Technology so as to popularise it at National level and make new innovations, research on the topic for further improvement to create it as exclusive brand at international market.
Member of Parliament requested the Union Textile Minister to sanction two more Integrated Textile Parks for the State to be set up in Una and Kangra Districts and said that State Government had already sent detailed proposal to the Union Textile Ministry in this regard. She assured him that State Government would provide land, infrastructure and other facilities for setting up the park and provide speedy clearances under Single Window Scheme. She said that the mother unit of M/S Himachal Textile Park Limited had started functioning and two additional units would also start working during the current financial year. She said that direct employment to around 2200 youths would be provided under the textile park and so far around 500 persons had been provided employment in the mother unit.
Union Textile Minister Dr K.S. Rao said that the ministry would send high level team to assess the implementation of various schemes of the Ministry in the State and Union Government would provide all assistance to the State Government.
