Technical textiles conference held ; CM invites corporate sector to State
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 23 2022: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said that Manipur has been witnessing a positive change under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and invited the corporate sector to come to Manipur and see the potential of the State.

Addressing the inaugural session of a Technical Textiles conference at Hotel Classic Grande, Imphal today, N Biren continued that Manipur has lots of potential in every sector and excels in sports.

"We have started exporting various items including ginger, pineapple etc," he added.

He further stated that five athletes from Manipur won medals at the recent Commonwealth Games.

"Manipur with its rich textile tradition, strategic location and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem has significant potential and the State is the land gateway of India to South East Asia," he continued.

Further stating that construction of Asian Highway is progressing fast, the Chief Minister appreciated the National Highways and Infra- structure Development Corporation Limited for their work along Imphal-Moreh Highway.

Technical textiles conference held CM invites corporate sector to State

The Chief Minister also spoke about the need to use modern technology in implementing developmental projects in Manipur as the State is prone to landslides.

Commending the road works taken up by Border Roads Organisation in Aru-nachal Pradesh as high- lighted in a power-point presentation by its Chief Engineer, the Chief Minister stressed on the need to utilise similar technologies in implementing projects in the State.

N Biren continued that schemes specific to the North East region have been taken up by the Ministry of Textiles to promote use of agro textiles and geo-textiles in the region.

Union Minister of State for Textiles Darshana Vikram Jardosh lauded N Biren Singh for working to take Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision forward.

The MoS also explained the vision of the Textile Ministry under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cabinet Minister Piyush Goyal.

"Our industry is mostly cotton based and globally people prefer man-made fibre," she said and added that some schemes have been initiated to increase India's stake in man-made fibre.

Textiles Commerce and Industries Minister Nemcha Kipgen said that the importance of technical textiles have grown by leaps and bounds and have become more relevant and important as different segments of technical textiles are growing in numbers having different purposes and usefulness.

The invention of specialty fibres and their incorporation in various areas suggest that the importance of technical textiles is going to increase in future, she said.

The Minister also said that the usage of technical textiles ranges from agriculture to forestry, horticulture, animal and poultry rearing including animal clothing besides enhancing crop productions.

Brig AS Kanwar, Chief Engineer (P) Arunank Border Roads Organisation, (BRO) provided an overview of the BRO, challenges and case studies and mitigation of the challenges using new technology.

He talked of the challenges faced in the northern areas, where the Himalayan ranges post specific challenges.

Highlighting the successful use of geo-textiles in soil stabilization and slope stabilization, he said that geo-textiles are extensively used in Arunachal Pradesh for slope stabilization.

He continued that the BRO remains committed to the use of modern technology to look for practical solutions to problems in the field.

Joint Secretary of Ministry of Textiles Rajeev Saxena briefed the gathering about the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) and explained why India needs technical textiles.

He continued that the NTTM has four components or focus areas which are Research, Innovation and Development, Education, Training & Skilling, Promotion and Market Development and Export Promotion.

The inaugural session was also attended by Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar and Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Giridhar Aramane.

Darshana Jardosh also graced the inaugural ceremony of an awareness programme held under National Handloom & Handicrafts Development Programme at City Convention Centre, Imphal.

Nemcha Kipgen, Chairman of Manipur Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd Kh Ibomcha, Moirang AC MLA Th Shanti Singh also attended the programme.

At the function, the MoS spoke about 'One District, One Product' which is aimed at expanding the market of weavers and artisans.

She also urged all to avail the benefits of various schemes and programmes of the Government to widen their scope.

Nemcha Kipgen, on the other hand, highlighted the initiative taken up by the State Government under the leadership of N Biren Singh for the welfare and development of weavers and artisans.

She informed that 21 projects of Cluster Development Programme under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) were sanctioned for Manipur by the Union Textiles Ministry.

Nemcha also stated that Manipur has the highest concentration of handloom weavers in the country with 2.12 lakh handloom weavers and 2.11 lakh looms as per a report of the 4th National Handloom Census 2019 .

As a part of the programme, Darshana launched 3D design of a craft handloom village at Moirang and distributed PEHCHAN cards to artisans and weavers.