Ludhiana, September 20
Textiles department can play a pivotal role by training graduates as per the emerging needs of the apparel industry and for the growth and betterment of this sector in the global market. This was stated by dean, postgraduate studies, PAU, S. K. Mann, during the inauguration of a 21-day winter school on “developing competitive skills in apparel design, production and marketing” sponsored by ICAR in the department of clothing and textiles, College of Home Science, here yesterday.

Mann said the Indian apparel industry accounts for nearly 4 per cent of the overall world export. There is Rs 20,000 crore domestic markets as well, only 5 per cent of which is being catered to by branded apparel. On relative terms, globally, Indian apparel industry is more competitive than any other industry.

Vision 2010 formulated by the Government of India aims to increase the Indian share in the world market to 8 per cent by 2010, creating nearly 12 million new jobs. Currently, after IT, textile and apparel industry is the largest employer of skilled manpower. Despite its strong raw material base and large production capacities, a severe paucity of technical manpower is envisaged.

Former dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities and Chairman, Synetic Business School, M. A. Zahir, in his keynote address on “Employability issues in apparel industry” emphasized the importance of quality parameters i.e. quality of material, specifications design, shades/colours, packaging and timely delivery of apparel goods for the competitive growth of this industry in the near future.

Giving details of the winter School, professor and head, Department of Clothing and Textiles, and director, Winter School, N.Grewal, said 15 participants from various agricultural universities of Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Uttrakhand and Punjab were attending the course.

Grewal revealed that the existing educational programmes (including diplomas) bring out nearly 2,000 students annually, which is grossly insufficient for ushering in the technological changes in this sector. Indian firms invest very little in training its existing workforce. Therefore, an acute shortage of skilled manpower is going to be the real bottleneck in the growth of this sector.

In such a scenario, clothing and textiles departments can play an important role by training their graduates as per the emerging needs of the industry, Grewal added. Though, the ICAR has been constantly striving to tailor the curriculum in state agricultural universities as per needs of the stakeholders, teachers training to teach such highly-technical curriculum is essential for quality delivery of curriculum and producing competent graduates. 

Ludhiana, September 20
The local unit of the NSUI has nominated Neha Jain as vice-president (women’s’ wing) and in charge of women colleges. This was stated by state unit of the NSUI’s coordination committee member Jaspreet Singh Ahluwalia while talking to media persons here today.

"These colleges must have a representative of the union so that they could voice their concern”, he said adding that the ban on students’ elections in state should be lifted which was imposed in 1984.

Ludhiana, September 20
The executive committee of the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Teachers Association has been elected unanimously.

Dr H.S. Sandhu, returning officer, and Dr S. Rampal, assistant returning officer, stated in a press note today the team was elected unanimously. Dr Iqbal Singh Bajwa has been elected as president of the association.