KOCHI: The Kerala Government will actively consider setting up garment production units for the 200 women artisans who are currently undergoing a six-month-long intensive training in textile ornamentation, under the Kerala Artisans Development Corporation (Kadco), said Industries and IT Minister P K Kunhalikutty here on Friday.
“The government is ready to provide the necessary infrastructure for setting up such centres in Thrissur and Ernakulam. All the women gathered here have good expertise in this field, either by tradition or by training. What they need is customers for their products,” Kunhalikutty said at an interactive session with the trainee women and garment industrialists, organised by the Kadco.
Leading textile groups, including Jolly Silks, Chakolas and Kalyan Silks, extended support to the women at the interactive session, which was hosted by the Institute for Entrepreneurship Development at Kalamassery.
Kunhalikutty launched a promotional video of the Kadco on the occasion. “The government is actively considering establishing small production units at the panchayat level, to help the women artisans,” said Industries and IT Principal Secretary P H Kurian.
“Our state lags behind the other states in the production of fancy and ornamented garments, which are of high demand, partly due to lack of skilled workers. The training programmes conducted by the Kadco are a key step forward in addressing the skill-gap,” he added.
Kadco chairman K Purushothaman said that until five months ago, most of the women participants of the Corporation’s training programmes where confined to domestic duties. “Today they are designers and artists whose works could compete with the best in the textile industry,” he said.
Kadco MD Abhishek C said that the goal of the Corporation’s project was to reduce the dependence of Kerala’s textile manufacturing sector on professionals from the other states, for design, ornamentation, and embroidery. Public Works Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju; Industries and Commerce director P M Francis; Joy N R, chief of Industry and Infrastructure; K P Noufal, principal of the Institute of Fashion Technology; designer Shalini James and clinical psychologist Dr Zaileshia were also present.