Annual Report
TEXTILE EXPORTS
PROFILE OF TEXTILE EXPORTS
SECTOR-WISE ANALYSIS OF TEXTILE EXPORTS
QUOTA ADMINISTRATION
NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
STEPS TO BOOST TEXTILE EXPORTS
COTTON YARN
TEXTILES COMMITTEE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY (NIFT)
PROFILE OF TEXTILE EXPORTS
(Including Jute and Handicrafts and Coir)
The export of Indian Textiles plays a pivotal role in the Indian economy. Textile exports
account for about 30% of Indian exports of all commodities, making Indian textiles the
largest single net foreign exchange earner for the country.
The Indian exports of all textiles in 1997-98 including Jute, Coir and Handicrafts were of
the order of Rs.46278.81 crore as against Rs.41828.15 crore in 1996-97, which
represented an increase of 10.6%. In dollar terms, the same has increased from 11839.13
million US$ in 1996-97 to 12389.91 million US$ in 1997-98 representing an increase of
4.6%. The exports during the current financial year for April-December, 1998 are of the
order of Rs.38458.8 crore as against Rs.33962.8 crore during the corresponding period of
the previous year. The major chunk in the export has taken place in the field of apparel
and cotton textiles. Sector wise break up of export performance during April-December,
1997 and April-December, 1998 is given here under.
EXPORT OF TEXTILES
1998-99
Value : In Rs. crores and $ million
. . . Export during the month . . .
Sl. Item . . . . . . . . .
No. Target 1998-99 April-Dec.,1997 April-Dec.,1998 % increase Target Achieved
.
% Share US$ Rs. US$ Rs. US $ Rs. US $ US $
1 Readymade Garments 41 5900 13024.7 3543.6 15469 3680.4 18.8 3.9 62.4
2 Cotton Textiles(a+b+c) 30 4175 11075.6 3066 12281 2933.8 10.9 -4.3 70.3
a) Cotton fabrics & Madeups(MM/PL) 14 1975 5224.5 1446.3 6313.8 1508.3 20.9 4.3 76.4
b) Cotton fabrics & Madeups (HL) 4 600 1402.4 388.2 1491.2 356.2 6.3 -8.2 59.4
c) Cotton Yarn 12 1600 4448.7 1231.5 4476 1069.3 0.6 -13.2 66.8
3 Man-made Textiles 8 1200 2737.7 751.3 2960.3 705.5 8.1 -6.1 58.8
4 Silk 2 300 641.9 177.7 746.5 178.3 16.3 0.3 59.4
5 Wool & Woolens 3 365 887 243 887.6 219.2 0.1 -9.8 60.1
. Total (1-5) 84 11940 28366.9 7781.6 32344 7717.2 14 -0.8 64.6
6 Handicrafts (a+b) 14 2035 4737.4 1311.5 5431.6 1297.5 14.7 -1.1 63.8
a) Carpet & other Floor coverings 1316.8 364.5 1423.4 340 8.1 -6.7 -
b) Other Handicrafts 3420.6 947 4008.2 957.5 17.2 1.1 -
7 Coir 0.5 70 173 47.9 200.7 47.9 16 0 68.4
8 Jute 1.5 230 685.5 189.8 482.1 115.2 -29.7 39.3 50.1
. Grand Total 100 14275 33962.8 9330.8 38459 9177.8 13.2 -1.6 64.3
1. Source : Export Promotion Council & Commodity Boards.
2. Export figures are provisional.
SECTOR-WISE ANALYSIS OF TEXTILE EXPORTS
(i) Cotton Yarn
The export of cotton yarn, including sewing thread had shown an increase in 1997-98
over the previous year with exports being Rs.5865.64 crore (1596.79 Million US$) as
against Rs.5330.17 crore(1501.50 Million US$) in 1996-97. The exports during the
current financial year (April-December, 98) have, however, registered marginal increase
to Rs. 4476 crores as against Rs.4448.7 crore during the corresponding period of the
preceeding year. It amounts to a 13.2% fall in $ terms mainly due to the currency and
financial crisis in the South East Asian region which accounts for almost half of our
cotton yarn exports.
The export of cotton yarn of below 40s counts is subject to specific ceiling keeping in
view the interests of the decentralised sectors of handlooms and powerlooms. Ministry of
Textiles (MOT) permits a specific quantity of this count group yarn for exports every
year. For the year 1998 the ceiling for export of upto 40s count was kept at 175 million
kgs. for 1999 the ceiling is 200 million kgs. However, the export in respect of the
following is exempted from the purview of the ceiling :
(i) Export to quota countries viz. the EEC & USA.
(ii) Export by 100% EOUs/EPZ units.
(iii) Exports under ALS and against raw cotton imported by spinning units under OGL.
(iv) Exports of processed yarn viz, mercerised, bleached, dyed and melange yarn and
(v) Exports within the minimum annualised limit of additional export obligation
(excluding the obligation towards maintaining the average annual export performance), in
respect of the EPCG licence-holders.
In addition, the export of yarn of counts above 40s is freely allowed except the quantity
covered under bilateral agreements, where there is a quantitative limit.
(ii) Cotton Mill Made/Powerloom Textiles
The export of Mill Made/Powerloom, Cotton fabrics and made-ups amounted to
Rs.7,251.50 crore in 1997-98 registering an increase of 11.1% as compared to the
achievement of Rs.6,526.12 crore in 1996-97. The export during (April- December, 98)
amounted to Rs.6313.8 crore as compared to Rs.5224.5 crore during the corresponding
period of previous year. The main markets of Cotton Textiles remain the same as in the
previous year, such as U.S.A., EU, and the Middle East,.
(iii) Cotton Handlooms
The export of Handloom Textiles increased from Rs. 1758.89 crore in 1996-97 to
Rs.1859.53 crore in 1997-98. In terms of US dollars, the exports increased to a level of
505.93 US$ Million Dollars during 1997-98 from 495.48 Million US$ during 1996-97.
The exports during the current Financial Year (April- December, 98) were of the order of
Rs.1491.2 crore as against Rs.1402.4 crore during the same period of last year thereby
representing an increase of 6.3%. The main destinations of Indian Handloom Textiles are
U.S.A., EU, Japan, Hongkong and Malaysia.
(iv) Readymade Garments
Readymade garments have the largest share of export amongst all textile items. The
garment sector has witnessed phenomenal growth. The export of garments, which was
merely of a few lakhs of rupees during seventies, touched the level of Rs.18389.57 crore
in 1997-98. Export during April- December 98 reached the level of Rs. 15469 crore as
against Rs.13024.7 crore during the corresponding period of the preceding year.
(v) Silk Textiles
The export of Silk textiles during April-December, 1998 was of the order of Rs.746.5
crore (178.3 million US$) as against Rs.641.9 crore (177.7 million US$) during the
corresponding period of the previous year. Export in 1997-98 was Rs.901.57 crore
(245.32 million US $) as against Rs.880.62
crore (248.06 million US $) in 1996-97.
(vi) Wool & Woollen Textiles
The export of Woollen textiles in 1997-98
substantially increased to Rs. 1128.80 crore
from Rs.1036.78 crore in 1996-97, thereby
registering an increase of 8.9%. In US$ terms,
the export increased to 305.08 million US$ from
296.22 million US$. The export during current
year (April-December, 98) have marginally
increased to Rs.887.5 crore as compared to
Rs.887.0 crore during the corresponding period
of previous year.
(vii) Man Made Textiles
The export of man-made fibre textiles in
1997-98 increased to Rs. 3730.00 crore from Rs.3216.10 crore in 1996-97, thereby
registering an increase of 16.0%. The exports during the current financial year April -
December, 1998, have registered an increase over the corresponding period of previous
year. The exports were of the order of Rs.2960.3 crore during April-December, 1998, as
against Rs.2737.7 in April-December, 1997.
QUOTA ADMINISTRATION
The international trade in textiles and clothing was regulated by a special arrangement
for 40 years outside the rules of General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT). The
framework of Multi Fibre Arrangement (MFA) applied to international trade in textiles
and clothing for the period 1974 to 31.12.94. India has entered into bilateral agreements
under MFA with USA, Canada EU etc. exports to which account for a major share of
total exports of Indian textiles. Consequent upon the establishment of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) with effect from 1.1.1995, the quantitative restrictions in the
bilateral agreements under the MFA are being governed by the Agreement on Textiles
and Clothing (ATC) contained in the final Act of the Uruguay round negotiations. The
quota regime in the textile sectors is scheduled to be completely phased out by the end of
2004 AD.
In order to achieve maximum utilisation of quota levels and better unit value realisation,
Government has been announcing a long term export quota policy. The current quota
policy is for a three year period from 1.1.1997 to 31.12.1999. the Textile Commissioner
exercises day to day supervision over matters relating to the allocation of export
entitlements. There is a Quota Co-ordination Committee under the chairmanship of the
Textile Commissioner with representatives of Export Promotion Councils as members, to
review the operation of the policy periodically. Under the export quota policy, the
available quotas are distributed under different systems of allocation, such as Past
Performance Entitlement (PPE), First Come First
Served (FCFS), Manufacturer Exporters
Entitlement (MEE), Non-Quota Entitlement
(NQE), Powerloom Exporters Entitlement (PEE),
New Investors Entitlement (NIE), etc. The Garment
Export Entitlement Policy is implemented by the
Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC),
whereas the Textile Export Entitlement Policy is
implemented by the Cotton Textiles Export
Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL).
The break up of quota allocation under various
systems for export of cotton yarn, readymade
garments and other textiles is given below.
DISTRIBUTION OF ANNUAL LEVEL
(Percentage of annual level distribution)
NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
Indian textile sector also faces non-tariff barriers by importing countries.
Colombia had initiated safeguard action against imports of denim fabrics inter-alia from
India on 20th April 1998, invoking the Agreement on Textiles & Clothing. The matter
was immediately taken up by India before the Textiles Monitoring Body under the WTO.
the TMB recommended on 31st July 1998 that Colombia should rescind the safeguard
measures. Colombian Government accepted the recommendations of the TMB, on
August 5, 1998.
The European Union (E.U.) had imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of
Unbleached Cotton Fabrics from India. This was the third back-to-back measure initiated
on this item. India took up the case bilaterally with the European Commission (EC). The
Ministerial Councils of the EU decided on 5th October 1998 to drop the proceedings.
The European Commission has initiated two parallel investigations, namely, anti-subsidy
and anti-dumping proceedings concerning the import of Polyester Texturised Filament
Yarn (PTFY) originating inter-alia from India. The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export
Promotion Council is coordinating the defence of producers and exporters in the PTFY
Anti-dumping case. However, the anti-subsidy proceedings are being contested by the
Government of India also, besides the producers and exporters.
The EC had initiated anti-dumping investigation in September, 1996 concerning import
of cotton type bed-linen items originating inter-alia, from India. Subsequently the EC
imposed definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of cotton type bed-linen originating
from India. Government of India has had one round of consultations with the EC’s on the
subject and the process is on.
STEPS TO BOOST TEXTILE EXPORTS
Government has been operating several Schemes and has undertaken some new
initiatives with a view to helping the textile exporting industry to overcome some
inherent disadvantages and to facilitate growth in exports of textile and textile products
from the country. The central objective of most of the Schemes is to ensure availability of
capital goods and raw material to the manufacturers at globally competitive rates.
COTTON YARN
A number of steps have been taken to arrest the downslide of cotton yarn exports. Firstly,
the pre-condition of fulfilment of Hank Yarn Obligation for cotton yarn exports was
removed, although the Obligation continued without any reduction of level. Secondly,
such 100% EOUs that were manufacturing cotton yarn and are subject to count restriction
were permitted to export cotton yarn without any count/domestic cotton use restriction
initally upto 31st December 1998, which has been extended upto 31st December 1999.
Thirdly, in regard to the composite units manufacturing cotton yarn as well as fabrics-
both existing and new- under the 100% EOU sector, the flexibility to export cotton yarn
was extended without any count restriction/ sourcing of domestic cotton condition. This
dispensation is contingent upon the unit being completely balanced for spinning and
weaving capacity, after such capacity is fully installed and commercial production started
and the unit undertaking a commitment to ensure that at least 50% of its total value of
export obligation is in the form of fabrics.
As far as capital goods are concerned, mention may be made of the following:-
Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme (EPCG) Under the Export Promotion
Capital Goods Scheme textile machinery, both new and second hand, can be imported at
concessional rate of duty under the Scheme, subject to time bound discharge of the
prescribed export obligations. The Scheme has two windows, namely, 10% concessional
duty and zero duty. The threshold limit for availment of zero duty EPCG scheme has
been lowered from Rs. 20 crores to Rs. 1 crore in respect of the garment sector from
13th April, 1998.
Among the various Schemes/provisions intended to facilitate availability of raw
material at globally competitive rates are the following.
Special Schemes under Exim Policy
a) Advance Licensing Scheme
This scheme permits duty-free import of raw materials, intermediates, components,
consumables, parts, accessories, mandatory spares and packing material required for the
manufacture of textile and clothing export products. With a view to facilitating exporters
to access to duty-free inputs under the scheme, standard input-output norms for about 300
textiles and clothing export products have been prescribed. The Standard Input-Output
Norms for a number of apparel items have been revised upwards, based on large garment
size.
b) DEPB Scheme
The objective of the DEPB scheme is to neutralise the incidence of customs duty on the
import content in the export product. DEPB credit rates have been prescribed for 74
textiles and clothing products. In pursuance of an initiative taken by Ministry of Textiles,
the value cap on DEPB rates for certain textile products has been suitably increased.
c) Special Import Licence
The special import licences (SIL), are valid for import of items appearing in ITC (HS)
classification of Export and Import items subject to payment of normal customs duty,
Textiles Committee has already brought out model manuals and has been conducting a
country-wide compaign to encourage textile sector units to acquire ISO-9000 standard
certification.
d) 100% EOU/FTZ Scheme
Under the scheme, units undertaking to export their entire production of goods can be set
up. They are entitled to import of all inputs as well as capital goods on a duty-free basis.
There are now more than 300 EOUs manufacturing textiles including yarn and clothing.
e) Duty Drawback Scheme
Duty Drawback is a mechanism for refund of Central Excise and Customs duty
chargeable on any imported materials or excisable materials paid by the exporters while
undertaking export production. The objective of the scheme is to reduce the burden of
indirect taxes on exports and make them more competitive in the international market.
f) Duty Free Import of Trimmings and Embellishments
Earlier, seven items of trimmings and embellishments namely labels, tags, stickers,
buttons, printed bags, belts and hangers were allowed to be imported on a duty-free basis
by the bonafide garment exporters. Deptt. of Revenue extended the facility for duty-free
imports to "All types of fasteners" and "Polywadding" also.
In addition, mention needs to be made of some other steps taken by the Government
:
Government has reduced interest rates on pre- and post-shipment credit from 11% to 9%
for the remaining period of 1998-99.
An important steps development has been the constitution of the Export Promotion
Board (EPB). under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary. The basic objective of
the EPB is to coordinate efforts of all concerned Ministries to create a more favourable
environment for maximising export earnings.
Among the other existing institutional arrangements, the most important are the Export
Promotion Councils for different sectors, such as Apparel Export Promotion Council,
Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, Synthetic & Rayon Textile Export Promotion
Council, Handloom Export Promotion Council, Wool and Woollens Export Promotion
Council, Carpet Export Promotion Council, Indian Silk Export Promotion Council,
Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts and Jute Manufacturers Development Council.
These Textile EPCs function under the sponsorship and direction of the Ministry of
Textiles. These Organisations have been taking a number of steps, including sponsoring
Buyer-Seller Meets, participation in fairs in major markets, releasing advertisements in
foreign trade magazines, product development and quality upgradation through
appropriate training programmes, etc.
For redressal of grievances of exporters, a High Level Committee chaired by Secretary
(Textiles), with representatives from Ministry of Commerce and Department of Revenue,
has been constituted. The Committee also takes up inter-ministerial matters like DEPB
rates, Drawback rates, steps to counter Anti-subsidy, Anti-dumping measures targeted
against Indian textile exports etc. to redress exporters’ grievances/problems.
TEXTILES COMMITTEE
The Textiles Committee, established by the Textiles Committee Act, 1963, has the
primary objective of ensuring quality of textiles both for internal marketing and exports.
Its functions include promotion of textiles and textile exports, research in the technical
and economic fields, establishing standards for textiles and textile machinery, setting up
of laboratories and data collection.
The Textiles Committee, besides its head quarters at Mumbai, has 29 Regional Offices.
It has set up Laboratories at 15 important centres to assist the industry and trade in testing
their products. The Committee has the following functional divisions at headquarters,
Mumbai - (1) Textiles Inspectorate Wing (2) Textiles Laboratory Wing (3) Market
Research Wing (4) ISO Wing (5) Vigilance Cell (6) Accounts Wing, and (7)
Administration and Co-ordination.
In exercise of the powers conferred on it, the Committee has been leving and collecting
cess from all textiles and textile machinery manufacturers at the rate of 0.05% with effect
from 1.5.1977. The Cess thus collected is deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India.
During the year 1997-98, the Committee remitted to the Government of India Rs. 3018
lakh towards the cess collection.
The Inspectorate wing continued to carry out the statutory and voluntary inspection of
textiles, inspection of material for establishing the loom origin, issue of GSP and other
special certificates during the year.
The laboratories of the Textiles Committee continued to render services to the trade and
industry, under the Commercial Testing of Samples Scheme. During the year 33,180
samples were tested under the commercial testing scheme and Rs. 70.58 lakh testing
charges were collected.
The Market Research Wing of the Committee continued the data collection regarding
purchases of textiles from 10, 250 house-holds, selected on a random sampling basis
from all over the country. Reports on Consumer Purchases for the years 1993, 1994, 1995
and 1996 were published.
A survey on the quality of man-made fibre cloth manufactured by the powerloom sector
in and around Surat was conducted. A report on the findings, giving recommendations for
improving the quality was published. A survey on the quality of cotton cloth
manufactured by the powerloom sector in and around Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra was
commenced.
The programme of computerisation of the working of the Textiles Committee at
Headquarters, Mumbai was taken up vigorously with the National Informatics Centre
(NIC) of the Planning Commission, as the Consultant. The NIC has developed software
application programmes for Consumer Panel Household Project, Cess Collection Work,
Information System on Sampling Testing, GSP Certification System, Quality Inspection
Monitoring System, Ginning Survey, Surat Survey, Ichalkaranji Survey, Library
Information System, etc. The software so developed are put to common use.
Apart from its regular activities, the Committee undertook the following developmental
activities during 1997-98.
(i) Activities relating to ISO 9000 Quality System Standards
- Seminars were conducted at seven places- Kanpur, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Amritsar,
Coimbatore and Chennai, which were attended by persons not only from the textile
industry but also from other industries too.
- 41 textiles companies engaged the Textiles Committee for rendering consulting services
in implementation of ISO 9000 Quality Systems in their companies. During the year
1997-98, eight companies were awarded ISO 9000 certificates under the consultancy
services provided by Textiles Committee, thus bringing up the number of units certified
so far to 20. Ten companies engaged Textiles Committee as consultant for
implementation of ISO 9000 Quality System in their companies.
As a part of the implementation strategy various programmes were conducted during the
year 1997-98 , the details of which are as under:
- Awareness Programme in 10 units attended by 254 participants.
- Statistical Process Control Training Programmes in 3 Units attended by 39 participants.
- Internal Quality Audit Training Programme in 8 units attended by 112 participants.
- Pre-Assessment Audit Programme in 6 units.
- Apart from conducting various programmes in client units, the Textiles Committee
conducted Third Party Audit at M/s. Gokak Mills Ltd., Gokak as a part of services to the
textile trade & industry.
(ii) Eco-Friendly Textiles
- In order to promote the concept of Eco-friendly textiles, the Committee organised
seminars at (i) Hyderabad, (ii) Coimbatore, (iii) Amritsar (iv) Kanpur and (v) Ahmedabad
during 1997-98. The officials of Textiles Committee have also presented papers in
seminars organised by other organisations at Mumbai, Surat and Cannore recently.
- The Textiles Committee has forwarded to the Ministry of Textiles, feedback obtained
on the prohibition of some of the sensitizing Disperse dyes and Trichlorobenzene
(Dyestuff carrier) from experts and dyestuff manufacturers.
- The Textiles Committee proposeds to take up a project on "Natural Dyes" jointly with
other organisations.
- Publications on "Eco-Friendly Textiles : Challenges to the Textile Industry", and
"Guidance for the Manufacture of Eco-Friendly Textiles" were reprinted and distributed
among the trade, industry and exporters.
- Textiles Committee has set up as many as 8 eco-laboratories throughout the country,
which includes 5 laboratories, set up recently. About 2000 samples have been tested for
different eco parameters at the eco laboratories of Textiles Committee at Mumbai,
Tirupur, New Delhi & Chennai. The remaining 4 eco laboratories of Textiles Committee
at Cannanore, Jaipur, Ludhiana & Madurai shall start functioning shortly.
- Textiles Committee has taken steps for additional eco testing equipments required by
the 11 Eco laboratories set up during 1995-96. The Committee has also arranged for
training on eco testing in India and abroad, to the officials from Textiles Committee and
Textile Research Associations, which have set up eco laboratories.
- The Textiles Committee has also arranged for performance evaluation of the 11 eco
laboratories during the year 1995-96 in order to ensure the proper utilisation of the eco
testing facilities created.
(iii) Consumer related matters
Consumer awareness and consumer interests in the textile field is of utmost necessity
today. Accordingly the Textiles Committee has set up a Standing Committee under the
chairmanship of the Textile Commissioner. The Standing Committee comprises
representatives of NGOs involved in consumer protection programmes and
representatives from the trade and industry. The Standing Committee meets periodically.
Complying with the decisions of the Standing Committee, the regional offices of the
Textiles Committee, in co-ordination with the offices of the Textile Commissioner and
consumer protection organisations of each region, conducted 19 awareness programmes.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY (NIFT)
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) was registered as an autonomous
Society in 1986. It is a 100% Government funded institution under the Ministry of
Textiles with Secretary (Textiles) as Chairman of the Board of Governors (BOG).
Besides the Chairman, there are 17 members on the Board of NIFT, including the
Executive Director who is the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation.
NIFT was established in collaboration with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT),
New York. The genesis of NIFT was in the idea of an apex institution to cater to the
growing needs of India’s evolving fashion industry. Over the years, NIFT has emerged as
the premier training institute in India nurturing and creating bright professionals in
different areas of fashion technology, meeting the Human Resource requirements of this
vital industry. Its high level of interaction and collaboration with the leading fashion
institutions of the world has enhanced the stature and scope for the fashion industry in
India to meet the challenges of the industrial competitiveness on a global plane.
Beginning from July, 1995 NIFT has set up under its umbrella six other Centres located
at Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad and Mumbai each of these
Centres have a Director incharge who is assisted by a Registrar and a nucleus staff. The
Executive Director is responsible for the overall coordination and monitoring of the
activities of these Centres, and which are under the common management of the BOG.
The State Level Management Committee (SLMC) of each Centre, consisting of
representatives from the state Government, Industry and having the Chief Secretary as its
Chairman, acts as a link between the Industry - NIFT Centre – Government. The
Registrar of the Centre is the designated Member-Secretary of the SLMC.
Major Landmarks of NIFT during 1998-99
NIFT has taken the initiative to form the International Foundation of Fashion
Technology Institutes (IFFTI). A conference for formation of this Foundation, discussion
on modalities of working of the Foundation, the ways and means of financing the
activities of the Foundation, etc., was held in the first week of November, 1998. The
Conference decided to establish the Headquarters of IFFTI at New Delhi and elected
Secretary.(Textiles) as Chairman of the Board of Directors of IFFTI and the ED, NIFT as
Chief Executive Officer.
Steps were initiated for formation of the Fashion Designers Council of India. This was
registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and has started
functioning since December ‘98.
NIFT has started two regular courses of Post Graduate Diploma in Leather Garment
Design & Technology and Post Graduate Diploma in Knitwear Design & Technology in
the Calcutta and Mumbai Centres, respectively, keeping in view the demand for these
courses in these regions.
Various interaction sessions were organised during this year with the Directors and
Registrars of the NIFT Centres to involve and integrate the NIFT Centres in the activities
of NIFT, Delhi and this has brought about a greater level of co-operation amongst all the
Centres and has helped remove the communication gap.
Steps have been taken to add to the library and resource facilities of all the Centres.
NIFT Centres are making all out efforts to enrich the Resource Centres keeping in view
the financial position.
Systematic efforts have also been made to enhance the hardware as well as software
facilities.
Building and other facilities at NIFT Centres
Construction work for building of the permanent facilities for NIFT at Hyderabad is
progressing and the first phase of the building is expected to be completed shortly and the
Centre will start functioning in its own building thereafter.
Construction work for building of the permanent facilities for NIFT at Calcutta is also
making progress and the same is expected to be completed by June, 1998.
NIFT, Bangalore was allotted land at the HSR Layout area in Bangalore. The
construction work on this land is also expected to commence shortly.
