Speed up transfer of technology to artisans: Chief Secy

Srinagar, Sep 3: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today called upon the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Srinagar to speed up efforts to transfer technologies from the lab to the grassroots level.

While chairing the 4th meeting of the State Level Advisory Committee (SLAC) of NIFT at Civil Secretariat here, Atal Dulloo said that fusion of craftsmanship and technology will pave the way for new opportunities, expanded markets, and enriched creative processes.

CS said that NIFT and Craft Development Institute (CDI), Srinagar should come up with a comprehensive framework for capacity building and training of master trainers who would later train the local artisans.

He said that NIFT should think about introduction of new designs to craft like Namda, carpets, crewel work and also help in marketing through introduction of latest technological interventions. He said that this would help in promoting entrepreneurship in regional craft for which Srinagar has been recognised as World Craft City.

Considering the resources and infrastructure available at NIFT, Dulloo said that more courses need to be introduced which will help in promotion and revival of local crafts like textile designing, paper machie besides other sectors.

He said that NIFT should become a hub of craft and everyone visiting the valley should make it to their priority list to visit the campus.

During the meeting, brief presentation on the agenda item was made by Director NIFT Srinagar highlighting the academic activities of campus and the future plans. He said that NIFT has been working as a knowledge service provider to the Jammu and Kashmir government in the area of design development and positioning of handlooms and handicrafts. He said that several programs and consultancy projects in the areas of design diversification, packaging of crafts, GI registration of crafts etc have been completed in the past two years.

The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles (through VC), Principal Secretary, Department of Finance, Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Director General, NIFT, New Delhi (through VC), Managing Director, J&K SIDCO, Director, NIFT Srinagar, Additional Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring Department and other officers from NIFT Srinagar.