Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha kicked off the two-day annual Youth Festival “SPECTRUM-24” at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) campus in Ompora, Budgam.
In his opening remarks, Lt Governor Sinha praised NIFT Srinagar for creating platforms that allow students from educational institutions across the Kashmir Valley to showcase their talents in the performing arts, sports, fashion, and literary events.
“Our young generation is the cornerstone of J&K’s prosperous future. They are our greatest asset, dedicated to elevating the Union Territory to new heights,” stated the Lt Governor.
He emphasized that the festival provides an invaluable opportunity for youth to exchange innovative and creative ideas, promoting the region’s rich cultural and artistic heritage.
Lt Governor Sinha also lauded NIFT Srinagar’s significant role in advancing design, particularly in the development and promotion of handlooms and handicrafts. He noted that NIFT has opened new career avenues in fashion, design, and management for the youth of J&K.
“Our handloom and handicraft sectors have seen a remarkable transformation over the last four to five years. NIFT students have a critical role to play in further developing and positioning these products,” he added.
The Lt Governor urged students to familiarize themselves with Jammu and Kashmir’s rich handicraft traditions. He encouraged them to support the Handicrafts Department in brand positioning and to innovate within various product categories.
He also highlighted recent policy reforms introduced by the UT Administration aimed at revitalizing the handicraft and handloom sectors. In June 2023, the administration added 32 new crafts to the existing list, bringing the total number of registered crafts to 60. Measures are being taken to ensure every handicraft artist and weaver benefits from GI certification, testing, labeling, and training.
Lt Governor Sinha called on NIFT students and faculty to support artisans in branding, product design, and packaging.
He further stressed the importance of academic institutions in positioning India as a knowledge-based economy. He pointed out that higher education in J&K is undergoing significant reforms, and institutions like NIFT should align with the National Education Policy 2020 to meet future market demands.
This year’s NIFT Youth Festival, themed “Rangreza,” features over 600 students participating in 24 events, including “Best out of Waste,” “Mural Art,” “Frame within the Frame,” “Battle of the Bands,” “Mental Marathon,” and “Open Mic.”
The event saw attendance from key figures including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri; Commissioner Secretary of Industries & Commerce Department, Vikramjit Singh; Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Akshay Labroo; Director of NIFT Srinagar, Dr. Javid Ahmad Wani; faculty members, and students from NIFT and other participating institutions.