Chetan Chauhan’s appointment as NIFT chairman raises a storm

The appointment of former cricketer Chetan Chauhan as Chairman of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has created quite a storm. Now Union minister of state for textiles and Bareilly MP Santosh Gangwar has said it is the right decision and people would see the difference in the next three months. The minister has said that even if Chauhan gives only 20 percent of his time to NIFT, it will be an achievement for the institute. It may be recalled that after his appointment, Chauhan had said that he will devote 20percent of his time to NIFT, 60 percent to DDCA (of which is the vice president) and 20 percent to his business. According to reports, the former cricketer runs a cricket academy and owns a printing press. What’s more fashion industry and others alike have not given positive feedback on Chauhan’s appointment.

Meanwhile the NIFT-TEA Knitwear Institute has signed a draft (MoU) with the Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel under the Lankan government to be able to use the Lankan expertise on production management. The Institute is promoted by Tirupur garment exporters. The draft MoU will get implemented once the Lankan government gives the approval.

As per the agreement, NIFT-TEA Institute would hold one diploma course and four certificate courses with experts deputed by the Sri Lankan institute take classes. The tie-up is significant because the Lankan institute has been famous for producing some of the best technical experts in production technology and management in the textile industry across the globe. Topics connected to production, management and merchandising would be taught.

The best part about the institute would be the students who would get trained here. They would solve manpower issues as they can be utilised by the units in Tirupur knitwear cluster in key posts in production chain for ensuring cost effective apparel production.