Staff Reporter
Dimapur, February 24
As part of the Centre’s 20 crore rupees project to set up Apparel & Garment Manufacturing Centres in Northeastern States, Union Minister of State for Textiles, Santosh Kumar Gangwar Tuesday laid foundation stone for Nagaland Apparel & Garment Manufacturing Centre here at DIC Complex, 6th Mile. He also unveiled the inaugural plaque of the Weaver’s Service Centre, Toluvi at the same venue. The minister, accompanied by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Panda, Secretary (Textiles) Government of India was received by MP Lok Sabha Neiphiu Rio, State Minister for Power Kipili Sangtam, MLAs and senior government officials.
Speaking at the function, Santosh Kumar Gangwar said, Centre’s priority and the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to tap the potentials of talented youth of Nagaland and their beautiful ethnic dresses by setting up apparel manufacturing unit in the state that would lead to sustainable economic development. He said the government of India will be spending sizeable amount of central budget to implement the project. It may be mentioned that Modi during his visit to Nagaland on 1st December 2014 had assured to set up apparel and garment manufacturing centres in each northeast state.
Lauding the State government for forthcoming towards this end, he said the State government and the Centre can jointly carry forward the project and promote the domestic handloom and technology that could integrate with fashion industries in the country. The minister also appreciated the state government for allotting the land to set up the Apparel & Garment Manufacturing Centre in a short period of time.
According to Dr. Sanjay Kumar Panda, the units will be functional in three months time with the installation of machineries and will be able to provide gainful employments to youth especially women and semi-educated youth, and young entrepreneurs of the state. He also said with the establishment of the manufacturing centre, the State could also focus on apparel-related sericulture development and tourists’ fancy for local products. He said the manufacturing centre could also produce uniforms for armed personnel. This will open the doors for markets not only in the state but also neighboring countries. ‘Socio economic deprivation is the cause for insurgency in the state’ Secretary for Ministry of Textiles said adding it can be done away with employment opportunities.
‘The building construction under the scheme is being taken up by National Building Construction Corporations (NBCC), Panda informed.
With the objective to promote entrepreneurship, generate employment and create skilled workforce and market linkages, the Centre is targeting 46 million population in the project.
Minster for Power, Kipili Sangtam underlined that the art of weaving is still popular among the Naga women especially in rural areas. He however said, weaving activity has not been popularized. He acknowledged that the project which is fully funded by the Ministry of Textiles will open ways for skills development training and employment.
Earlier the welcome address was delivered by Commissioner & Secretary (Industries and Commerce) M.K.Mero. Felicitation was done by the Toluvi Village Council, Department of Sericulture, Nagaland and Department of Industries & Commerce, Nagaland. The vote of thanks was rendered by Additional Director of Industries & Commerce Er.Kahoto Sema.
Soon after the function, the Union Minister left for Assam.
Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio in his speech, specifically emphasized on documenting Naga traditional dress patterns which should be properly documented in book form. This will help for coming generations to preserve and improve their rich heritage in the field of textiles, Rio said.
Taking advantage of Centre’s economic policy ‘Make in India’ and setting up of manufacturing unit in Nagaland, Rio said, the youth should take the ‘opportunity with responsibility’ and become self-reliant and entrepreneurs. ‘This is the first manufacturing project in the State’, Rio said, while congratulating the State for getting the ‘First Benefit,’ in garment sector. The Member of Parliament felt that more of such manufacturing units in the Northeast- a land-locked region, would go a long way in solving the problems of long-drawn insurgency. He urged the budding youth to showcase their talents and become a ‘Trend-setter.’
Rio lamented that Nagas have failed to convince the investors to do business in manufacturing and service sectors because of our casual way of life. “This project should be taken as an opportunity. We should not be a ‘consumer society but producing society’ for which we should contribute towards economic growth of the country at large.”
