Foundation stone of an apparel and garment centre to be set up under the North East Region Textiles Promotion Scheme at the state was laid by Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma on May 22. The centre will help promote textile sector in Meghalaya.
The chief minister said that the focus of the state government has been to create job for the youth within the state rather than the usual placement other in other parts of the country.
The state government is working in tandem with the centre to create multiple opportunities for the youth workforce with number of interventions which include various skill and entrepreneurship development programmes.
Textile minister, Santosh Kumar Gangwar, who was present, said there was a need to jointly work towards growth and development stating that handloom and handicraft is essential everywhere in the world. He said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had expressed his concern for the North East. He said about the importance of working towards the growth and development of the region and mentioned that Bangladesh which is close to the state is also faring well in the textile industry.
Gangwar also informed the gathering that the centre will be setting up silk industry in the entire Northeast with an estimated amount of Rs.30 crore of which, the union government will pay Rs.29.9 crore and also increase handloom clusters in collaboration with NIFT in Meghalaya alone.
With proper availability of land, the government can work towards initiating textile industry in the region which can provide easy employment to the people of the region, the minister added.