Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, inaugurated the permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) on January 05, 2024, in Fulia, West Bengal. Built with cutting-edge technology on a 5.38-acre campus at a cost of Rs 75.95 crore, the facility features modern amenities, including smart classrooms, a digital library, and advanced testing laboratories. The campus aims to serve as a center of excellence for handloom and textile education, catering to students from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Sikkim.
During the event, the Minister planted saplings as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative and awarded medals and certificates to the top 10 rank holders across all IIHTs in India. A unified website for all six Central IIHTs was launched, and a book titled Computer-aided Figured Graph Designing for Jacquard Weaving was released.
Giriraj Singh highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to uplift handloom weavers, announcing the increase in first-year intake from 33 to 66 students. The institute will focus on utilizing flax and linen as raw materials, with design inputs from NIFT Kolkata, to strengthen the textile value chain.
Acknowledging West Bengal’s rich handloom legacy, the Minister recalled the historical demand for Bengal’s handwoven fabrics, renowned for their exceptional fineness. He emphasized the government’s commitment to expanding the textile market to USD 300 billion by 2030, generating employment for 6 crore people.
The Minister expressed that the new campus is not merely an institution but a platform for handloom weavers’ children to achieve their dreams. By equipping students with advanced skills, the initiative aims to ensure the sustainability of the handloom sector and enhance its global recognition, aligning with the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
