Minister of State for Textiles Santosh Kumar Gangwar laid the foundation stone for apparel and garment making centre in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, and hoped the centre will be the beginning of setting up of an organised industry in the state.
Addressing the gathering, Gangwar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given special attention to the Textiles Ministry with special focus on the North Eastern region. The apparel and garment making centres were being opened in every state of the North East region as part of the initiative announced by the PM in December 2014. Before Mizoram, these centres have been set up in all other seven states of the region. This initiative comes under the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) of the Textiles Ministry, an umbrella scheme for the development of various segments of textiles including silk, handlooms and handicrafts.
Of the total outlay of Rs 1,038.10 crore, Rs 18.9 crore has been given to Mizoram for setting up of this centre where the state government will provide 1.5 acres of land free of cost. The centre will be managed by the Ministry for five years and will be handed over to the state government thereafter.
Textiles Secretary SK Panda said the garment making centre would provide employment to the youths of Mizoram. It will also lead a way for developing technical textile and skilled personnel which would in turn contribute to the economy of Mizoram.
Upon his arrival in Mizoram, the minister inaugurated the Weavers Service Centre, which was expected to benefit many handloom weavers in the state. Weavers Service Centre established under the ministry´s funds, the Mizoram Government, aims to provide technical assistance, advice, designs and marketing opportunity to all weavers and concerns in the handloom sector. The function was attended by state Industry Minister H Rohluna, state Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Lalhlimpuia and Zothankhuma, Commissioner & Secretary, Industry Department