The Hindu : Front Page : Knowledge resource centre for knitwear planned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 13, 2007
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Knowledge resource centre for knitwear planned

M. Gunasekaran

Knitwear Fashion Institute to launch a case study programme
It is expected to help the industry solve a plethora of problems

TIRUPUR: The NIFT-TEA Knitwear Fashion Institute, a non-profit educational institution run by exporters exclusively for the knitwear industry, has unveiled its plans to become a global knowledge resource centre for the knitwear industry.

Promoted by the Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA) to develop professionals for the growing knitwear industry, the institute will soon launch a ‘case study programme.’

It is expected to become a repository of knowledge for the industry to solve a plethora of problems, including dimensional changes, shrinkage, and colour and quality issues, during various stages of garment production.

“Garment factories do encounter technical problems while executing export orders. By sheer experience, they are solved adopting innovative methods in most cases. But such cases are not documented. The institute will collect such data from various industrial houses under the programme,” said Raja M. Shanmugam, chairman of the institute.

Minor mistakes that occur in import/export documents will be documented. Faculty members and students will be involved to collect them, which will help the industry avert mistakes.

The construction of a 50,000 sq ft administrative block at a cost of Rs. 3 crore will begin soon. Now the administrative office, laboratories and classes are functioning in cramped industrial sheds at Mudalipalayam.

Says Mr. Shanmugam, “The institute is for the industry and banks are getting good business from the industry. Many banks have come forward to help us in the endeavour and the response from others also is positive.”

Funds

The management is hesitant to raise funds through loans as it is not a commercial venture.

Mr. Shanmugam says funds will be mobilised by enlisting more members. So far, 106 businessmen have contributed Rs. 2 lakh each to the institution.

Some entrepreneurs have agreed to donate Rs. 40 lakh to construct classrooms.

They will be named after the donor. The construction of the hostel block is over. The student strength will be increased to 1,000 from the present 800 in the next academic year.

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