Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today visited the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) campus in Budgam to assess its academic functioning, infrastructure, and ongoing development works.
During the visit, the Deputy CM chaired a brief review meeting to evaluate academic progress, teaching methodologies, and student welfare initiatives. He later toured key facilities including the Garment Construction Lab, Weaving Lab, Jewellery cum Leather Lab, and Photography Lab, interacting with faculty and students to understand the industry relevance of their training.
Engaging warmly with students, Choudhary encouraged them to become cultural ambassadors of Jammu & Kashmir by showcasing the region’s heritage through modern design platforms. He assured the students that a patch of nearby land would be developed into a sports field to support their extracurricular interests.
Underscoring the government's commitment to inclusive growth and skill development, the Deputy CM urged NIFT to initiate specialized training for local ITI students and artisans. He stressed on empowering traditional craftspersons with modern techniques to enhance the quality and global appeal of indigenous products.
Inspecting ongoing infrastructural upgrades on campus, Choudhary directed executing agencies to maintain top-quality standards and take immediate action on pending repairs, ensuring a safe and innovation-friendly environment.
Expressing satisfaction over the institute’s progress, he reaffirmed the government’s continued support to help NIFT Budgam evolve into a premier design and fashion education hub.
NIFT Director, Prof. Dr. Monika Gupta, briefed the Deputy CM on the institute’s strong community engagement programs, noting that students regularly visit local artisan clusters to offer advanced design and technical guidance.
The visit reflects the government’s focused approach towards strengthening design education and promoting traditional crafts in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Deputy CM was accompanied by the Managing Director of SIDCO, SE R&B Budgam, and other senior officials