Union textiles minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar, inaugurated the Manipur Sericulture Project Management Complex at Sangaipat, Imphal East. He said the state’s unemployment problem can be solved if proper emphasis is given to development of handloom and handicraft and sericulture. Gangwar and Chief Minister of Manipur, O Ibobi, also laid the foundation stones for Apparel and Garment Making Centre and Powerloom Estate, Lamboi-khongnangkhong, Imphal. He also launched a scheme to promote use of a geotechnical textiles in the NE region of India and two sericulture schemes of Manipur Sericulture Project Phase-II for valley districts of Manipur and Integrated Sericulture Development Project for Hill Districts of Manipur. These schemes reflect the government’s keen intention to bring inclusive development in the NE region.

These initiative have been taken up under the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), an umbrella scheme for development of various segments of textile industry launched by the Ministry of Textiles. Apparel and Garment Making Centre, Manipur is fully funded by the Ministry of Textiles and it is expected to generate direct employment for 1,200 people. There would be three units with 100 machines and their capacity would be augmented so as to create entrepreneurs and skilled workforce for the apparel sector.