19th NIFT to Open in Begusarai, Aiming to Establish Bihar into a Textile Hub: Giriraj

Begusarai: The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is set to inaugurate its 19th centre in Begusarai, Bihar. For the next two years, the training centre will operate from the Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) campus before moving to its permanent location at the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) campus. The Bihar government has allocated 90,000 square feet of space in the BIADA campus for this purpose, with construction expected to be completed within two years. The new facility will focus on providing specialized training related to the textile industry.

Union Textile Minister and local MP, Giriraj Singh, made the announcement during a recent inspection of the under-construction textile factory at Asuwari and the proposed six-acre site for the textile park. Emphasising the significance of the textile sector, Singh noted that it is the largest employment centre in India after agriculture. He outlined plans to position Bihar as a global textile hub, highlighting the potential for the state’s urban culture to thrive through textile development. The central and state governments are collaborating on a joint action plan to boost investment and employment in the textile sector, addressing the critical issue of unemployment.

Begusarai and Muzaffarpur are slated to become major textile hubs under this initiative. Singh pointed to the high involvement of women in the textile industry—around 70%—and the extensive jute cultivation in the Kosi region, which currently lacks industrial infrastructure. He also mentioned plans to revitalise the Lohia Nagar Egg Silk Department, which will directly benefit local farmers. The vision is for Begusarai to develop into a silk city akin to Bhagalpur, fostering growth in handicrafts, handlooms, and the egg silk industry.

Addressing development concerns, Giriraj remarked that the ongoing projects worth Rs. 60,000 crore were not discussed during elections. He attributed the electoral success to the support from the Lord Shiva and women voters. BJP District President Rajiv Verma, Railway Ministry Passenger Advisory Committee member Sunil Ram, and several other officials and party members were present during the announcement.

Giriraj also touched on the need to make industry regulations more flexible to promote growth. India’s textile business currently stands at $154 billion, contributing 3% to the GDP, encompassing sectors like made mid-fiber, silk, and carbon fiber industries. He highlighted India’s leading position in the jute industry and its strong standing in cotton and silicon production, noting that competition from Bangladesh, which has supportive laws for the textile industry, necessitates regulatory reforms in India.