Jt. Secretary, Textiles graces 55th JTC

The Joint Technological Conference (JTC) is an annual feature of Indias premier textiles research associations ATIRA, BTRA, SITRA and NITRA. This is a jointly organised prestigious techno-conference in which delegates from the textile & clothing industry take part. The major technical developments in the field of textile technology, based on the R&D works carried out by four TRAs during the year, are presented and deliberated in the conference.

The 55th edition of this event was hosted by NITRA at PHD House, New Delhi on 10 May 2014. Sujit Gulati, Jt. Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, inaugurated the occasion as chief guest. Also present on occasion were Chairman, NITRA and eminent industrialist Sh RL Nolkha, Director General, NITRA Dr Arindum Basu, respective Directors of ATIRA, BTRA, and SITRA Dr AK Sharma, Dr AN Desai, and Dr Prakash Vasudevan. Dr R Chattopadhyay and Dr SM Ishtiaque, both Professors, IIT Delhi chaired the two technical sessions. During the daylong conference, twelve technical papers were presented to about 250 industry professionals. TRAs and some reputed companies also participated in the exhibition that was organised for product showcasing and technology manifestation to industry delegates.

RL Nolkha, Chairman, NITRA, in his welcome address mentioned that, TRAs are the flag-bearers of textile research in India since independence and are also acting as implementing agencies for textile ministry. He urged the JS to provide more support to TRAs and create an environment so that TRAs can wholeheartedly concentrate on research works and pass on its fruits to Indian textile industry.

Dr Arindam Basu, Director General, NITRA while presenting the combined report on the activities and achievements of TRAs, informed that altogether 50 R&D projects, that are partly funded by the industry, MoT, state governments and other government agencies, are under taken by the four TRAs during last one year. The progress and outcome of most of the projects, whether ongoing or completed, are very satisfactory. While continuing, Dr Basu mentioned that in order to keep Indian textile industry competitive in the international market in the emerging area of technical textiles, TRAs are working round-the-clock through various Centers of Excellence (CoE) for technical textiles that are established in all TRAs with the financial assistance from MoT.