Indian School of Textiles to come up at Coimbatore: Maran

The textile ministry will set up an Indian School of Textiles by upgrading the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Institute of Textile Management (SVPITM) at Coimbatore. The institute will provide professional education covering the entire spectrum of textiles, textile minister Dayanidhi Marn said today.

The school will engage itself in research and consultancy to impart learning, create and disseminate knowledge about textiles in addition to focus upon technology support systems on entire textile chain. It would also undertake comprehensive consultancy services for the industry, Maran said.

Maran also announced the setting up of another integrated textiles park at Vishakhapatnam under the scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP), besides the one inaugurated at Surat yesterday.

The Park at Vishakhapatnam, with an investment of Rs200 crore, is also ready for operation. Two parks together will provide employment to 70,000 people, he said.

Since innovation is the key to survival in the globalised world, upgradation in technology, machinery, products and processes is necessary for the industry to fully exploit the opportunities available globally. To achieve these objectives, Maran said, the ministry will promote research and development in textile sector, including handlooms and handicrafts, to provide a 'Common Technology Platform' on commercial basis for promotion of new technologies for value addition and product diversification.

Organic textiles
The ministry will also take necessary steps to safeguard and promote organic cotton in the country, said Maran, adding, his ministry had taken several measures in consultation with ministries of finance and commerce to ameliorate the situation.