The Government of India has decided to set up an Integrated Textile Office Complex (ITOC) at Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT), Varanasi. The proposed office complex will house all offices in Varanasi under the Ministry of Textiles, which work for the welfare of weavers. The Union Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar recently laid the foundation stone for the integrated complex at IIHT.

Co-location of offices of various allied agencies under Ministry of Textiles in the proposed building will provide a common platform to all stakeholders, including weavers, exporters and marketing agencies. This will enable them to better reap the benefits of Government schemes and with less effort, resulting in saving of time and money. This will thereby contribute to higher productivity, income and better livelihoods for weavers.

In addition, situating ITOC in the IIHT campus will facilitate obtaining of necessary approval for starting the Degree course B. Tech in Handloom & Textile Technology at IIHT Varanasi campus on the lines of the course in IIHT Salem. This in itself will fulfill the long-felt need for such a course in this part of the country. Furthermore, bringing a NIFT extension counter in the IIHT campus will not only catalyze the students learning process, but will also bring in better synergy between their academic projects and the design related activities of Weavers Service Centre, resulting in value-addition to the weavers products.

The proposed Integrated Textile Office Complex (ITOC) is expected to be ready within two years. The construction will be undertaken by CPWD, at an estimated cost of Rs 64 crores.