SHILLONG: The School of Livelihood and Rural Development (SLRD) will now run the largest apparel manufacturing unit in Meghalaya. Located at Hatisil near Ampati in South West Garo Hills and covering an area of 45,000 sq. ft., the unit was set up at a cost of approximately Rs. 14.26 crore, by the Ministry of Textiles of the Government of India under the North East Region Textiles Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), an umbrella scheme for the development of various segments of textiles, i.e. silk, handloom, handicrafts and apparels and garments.
It was hoped that that the centre would bring about economic development by creating employment for at least 1500 people of the region. The sprawling centre has three units, two of them housing 105 sewing machines each, and the third one having seventy machines.
The centre was inaugurated early in 2017 in the presence of Union Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani and the project was an example of the convergence of efforts of Central and State Governments and was aimed at affecting economic growth in the area.
However, the factory remained idle for a year and a half while the two different agencies that the unit was allocated to failed to meet their commitment to start production.
SLRD recognised the potential of the manufacturing unit in achieving its own aims of rural development and actively worked on acquiring the factory where other bidders did not consider it feasible business venture leaving SLRD as the only applicant.
It was finally awarded with the project in September 2018 due to its active participation, and experience in rural livelihood. Through this initiative, SLRD hopes to take Meghalaya to an industrialised category.
The set-up of the factory comes at an ideal time with the presence of international market in neighbouring Bangladesh, as it offers a great opportunity in forging business partnerships with investors of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the unemployed semi skilled youth of the region serve as a ready workforce only with the requirement of advanced training to operate the state of the art machinery present at the unit.
SLRD itself is active in the weaving sector which currently engage 300 women providing them a sustainable livelihood option. The centres are equipped with facilities for designing, hank dyeing, warping, jacquard weaving, fabric finishing and sewing which make it sustainable in long run.
It will also look in catering to local consumers and armed forces, and later venture out to national and international markets. Packaging and finishing of products will also be supported by SLRD adding to the number of locals employed. About 300 individuals will be absorbed immediately and the numbers are expected to grow to 2000 artisans by the time production goes to maximum capacity.
