National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) with a total intake capacity of 720 students with reserved domicile quota of 35% shall be set up at Ompora Budgam.
In this regard, the Chief Secretary, B R Sharma on Monday in Jammu chaired the 1st meeting of the State Level Advisory Committee (SLAC) constituted to monitor the construction of permanent campus of NIFT, to be set up at an estimated project cost of Rs 325.36 cr and expected to be completed by 2020. State Government has designated Industries and Commerce Department as a nodal department of the Project and nominated SIDCO as the implementing agency for executing the Project.
The Board of Governors of NIFT has already approved the proposal of starting 2 regular courses from temporary campus of NIFT at Rangreth Srinagar from the academic year 2016-17. It has also approved the proposal of setting up of NIFT’s permanent campus at Ompora, Budgam along with its DPR, an official spokesperson said this evening.
National Institute of Fashion Technology was set up in 1986 under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Textiles. It is a premier Institute of Design, Management and Technology, developing professionals for taking up leadership positions in fashion business in the emerging global scenario. NIFT has been granted statutory status under the act of Parliament of India in 2006, empowering the Institute to award degrees and other academic distinctions.
J&K Government through Union Ministry of Textiles has been collaborating to set up a permanent NIFT campus in the State.
The Chief Secretary said that the construction of the campus should be undertaken on latest designs and aesthetics in line with the legacy of the premier institute. He also stressed on appointing a reputed Project Management Agency to ensure proper management of the project including monitoring the progress and quality of work executed. He also asked for defining clear timelines so that project is completed as per schedule.
Meanwhile, with regard to functioning of temporary campus of NIFT at Rangreth Srinagar, the Committee discussed arrangements to be put in place for starting regular under graduate courses of 4 years in Fashion Design and Fashion Communication from academic year 2016-17.
“Proper arrangements for providing residential accommodation and other facilities for faculty and students should be looked into on priority” Chief Secretary said and added that in order to bring the said courses at NIFT under the ambit of various scholarship programmes, the matter should be taken up with the Union Ministries offering such scholarships.