IIHT Fulia’s new campus, which benefits rural students and improves the handloom industry’s prospects, is inaugurated by Union Minister Giriraj Singh. A website launch, medal awarding, and community development projects are all part of the event.
A important component of India’s rural economy, the handloom sector employs millions of people and contributes significantly to the preservation of the nation’s cultural legacy. On January 4, 2025, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh will officially open the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology’s (IIHT) new permanent campus at Fulia, West Bengal.
The institute, part of a network of six IIHTs established to preserve the unique identity of handlooms and address the industry’s technical manpower needs, has been developed with a Government of India investment of Rs 75.95 crore.
The new campus, which spans 5.38 acres, has state-of-the-art facilities, including computer laboratories, digital libraries, smart classrooms, and specialised textile labs for general engineering, textile testing, and electronic jacquard weaving. In order to provide a secure and comprehensive learning environment for students, the site also has residential amenities, such as staff quarters and separate dorms for boys and girls.
Giriraj Singh will plant trees as part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign during the inauguration. He will also give medals and merit certificates to the top 10 rank holders from all IIHTs in India. Along with the publication of a book titled Computer-aided Figured Graph Designing for Jacquard Weaving, a single website for all six IIHTs will also be established.
The new facility will help students from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Sikkim, especially those from rural and semi-urban regions, by acting as a Centre of Excellence in handloom and textile technologies. It is anticipated to improve local populations’ livelihoods and increase job prospects in Fulia and the neighbouring areas.
Several dignitaries, including Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Union Minister of State for Education, Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, and other prominent officials, will attend the event, marking a significant milestone for the handloom sector.