Giriraj Singh Inaugurates Rs 76 Crore IIHT Campus in Bengal
Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh inaugurated the new permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) at Fulia in West Bengal’s Nadia district. Built at a cost of Rs 75.95 crore, the state-of-the-art campus spans 5.38 acres and features modern facilities, including smart classrooms, a digital library, and advanced testing laboratories.
The new campus is set to serve as a centre of excellence in handloom and textile technology, catering to students from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Sikkim. It aims to bolster education in the sector and elevate the skillsets of handloom weavers' children. To further the impact, the intake capacity for first-year admissions has been increased from 33 to 66 students.
During the event, a unified website for all six Central IIHTs in India was launched. Medals and merit rank certificates were also presented to the top 10 rank holders among all IIHTs. Additionally, Giriraj Singh unveiled a book titled Computer-aided Figured Graph Designing for Jacquard Weaving.
In his address, the Minister underscored the Textile Ministry’s vision to expand the industry’s market size to $300 billion by 2030 and generate employment for six crore individuals in the textile value chain. He emphasized the institute’s role in promoting innovation, sustainability, and skill enhancement in the handloom sector.
Singh highlighted the historical significance of Bengal’s handloom industry, recalling how its fine handwoven fabrics once surpassed the demand for Manchester’s industrially produced textiles. He also pointed out the institute’s focus on using flax and linen as raw materials and incorporating design inputs from NIFT Kolkata to boost the global appeal of handloom products.
Calling the new facility a 'platform for dreams', the Minister emphasized its potential to empower the children of handloom weavers and ensure the sustainability of the craft. He termed it a step towards realizing the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by blending tradition with modern technology.
The event was attended by local MPs, MLAs, and senior officials, who lauded the initiative as a landmark achievement for the region’s textile sector.
The Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, Fulia, is expected to contribute significantly to the textile value chain while preserving and enhancing the legacy of Indian handlooms.
