Fulia: Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, inaugurated the new permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) in Fulia, West Bengal. Spanning 5.38 acres and built at a cost of ₹75.95 crores, the state-of-the-art facility is set to become a model learning hub and a center of excellence in handloom and textile technology.
The new campus boasts modern infrastructure, including smart classrooms, a digital library, and advanced testing laboratories. It aims to cater to the educational needs of students from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Sikkim, while significantly contributing to the development of the handloom sector in these regions.
During the ceremony, Giriraj Singh planted saplings as part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” drive, symbolizing sustainability and environmental consciousness.
The minister also awarded medals and merit certificates to the top 10 rank holders from IIHTs across India and launched a unified website for all six central IIHTs, streamlining access to information and resources.
A book titled “Computer-aided Figured Graph Designing for Jacquard Weaving” was released, reflecting the institute’s focus on integrating technology with traditional weaving practices.
In his address, Singh highlighted the contribution of the Textile Ministry’s schemes to the development and progress of handloom weavers. He dedicated the new campus to West Bengal, announcing an increase in first-year admissions from 33 to 66 seats. He emphasized that children of handloom weavers would have greater opportunities to study and contribute to the handloom industry in the region.
Singh also underscored the legacy of West Bengal’s handloom weaving, recalling its historical prominence before the Industrial Revolution. “The finesse of Bengal’s handwoven fabrics was unparalleled, with sarees so fine they could pass through a small ring,” he said.
The Minister outlined the government’s vision of achieving a $300 billion market size in the textile industry by 2030, creating six crore jobs across the value chain. He called the IIHT Fulia campus a “platform for dreams,” envisioning it as a foundation for building sustainable handloom crafts and giving the sector global recognition.
The new campus will collaborate with NIFT Kolkata for design inputs and focus on using flax and linen as raw materials to strengthen the textile value chain. The initiative aligns with the government’s vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), merging tradition with modern technology.
The event was attended by several notable figures, including Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal; Jagannath Sarkar, MP from Ranaghat; and MLAs Bankim Chandra Ghosh, Ashim Biswas, and Ashis Kumar Biswas. Dr. M. Beena, IAS, Development Commissioner for Handlooms, was also present, alongside other dignitaries.
