The Government has decided to set up an Integrated Textile Office Complex (ITOC) at the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) in Varanasi.
The proposed office complex will house all offices in Varanasi under the textiles ministry, which work for the welfare of weavers.
The Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar laid the foundation stone for the integrated complex at IIHT.
Offices of various allied agencies under textiles ministries in the proposed building will provide a common platform to all stakeholders, including weavers, exporters and marketing agencies.
This will enable them to better reap the benefits of Government schemes and with less effort, resulting in saving of time and money.
This will thereby contribute to higher productivity, income and better livelihoods for weavers.
In addition, situating ITOC in the IIHT campus will facilitate obtaining of necessary approval for starting the Degree course “B. Tech in Handloom & Textile Technology” at IIHT Varanasi campus on the lines of the course in IIHT Salem in Tamil Nadu.
This in itself will fulfill the long felt need for such a course in this part of the country.
Furthermore, bringing a NIFT extension counter in the IIHT campus will not only catalyze the students’ learning process, but will also bring in better synergy between their academic projects and the design related activities of Weavers Service Center, resulting in value addition to the weavers’ products.
The Rs 64 crore “Integrated Textile Office Complex (ITOC)” is expected to be ready within two years..
Image Courtesy : handlooms.nic
