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HRD for technical textile

The Centre’s recent move to set up a core group for developing human resource base in the field of technical textiles is a right one. In fact, such an attempt should have been made quite some time back since human resource is the most vital input, particularly in high performance area like technical textiles. This core group along with NCUTE can play a very important role in this regard. In the past couple of years, NCUTE has created a very comprehensive databank towards its effort to reform the existing textile education base in the country. Besides, SASMIRA has prepared an extensive module which can be a basic framework. Technical textiles is a niche sector and certainly calls for skilled manpower as an important ingredient. For that matter no industry can sustain without an adequate manpower support. Development of manpower, product and market should go simultaneously or else there will be an imbalance which can jeopardise the entire effort. Already, we are lagging behind, even as countries like China, Taiwan and other south east Asian nations have made substantial progress in exploring the opportunities.

As per the SASMIRA module a core group comprising experts from textile research associations and other agencies will be trained by overseas agencies in order to commission a nationwide training campaign in the country. Being in the field for some time now, SASMIRA has developed a very good contacts with renowned foreign textile institutes which are mainly dedicated to the field of technical textiles. The British Textile Technology Group (BTTG), UK could be a right choice for training of the core group members. In fact, the Mumbai-based research institute has already initiated talk with BTTG. The module is quite viable and easy to implement in a longer perspective. To begin with, we will have to form a small group of experts who over a period of time can impart training towards forming of necessary manpower requirement. Formation of core group should be followed by an awareness campaign. In the past, some efforts have been made, but the approach has been limited due to lack of adequate resources. Towards this end, cluster-based approach could be considered since this can go a long way in optimising the given resources. In the beginning, there is need to create a few successful case studies which can be used to catalyse the entire process. In the last couple of years, the industry has evinced some interest in the production of this high value speciality textiles. However, the overall progress has been much slower than what it should be in the changing trade order. This is despite the fact, according to experts, that India has one of the largest textile manufacturing base in the world. Moreover, the government has also been not able to adequately gear up the whole process.

The delay is despite the fact that technical textile has been recognised as a future growth driver in the new textile policy. This is the only area that can bale the Indian industry out of the current doldrums.