NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) Patna, under the Ministry of Textiles, has entered into a strategic partnership with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the presence of Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh. The collaboration aims to empower rural women, especially Jeevika Didis from self-help groups, by providing them with advanced skills in garment manufacturing, machinery handling, and quality control, while ensuring direct access to employment opportunities in Bihar’s textile industry.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh highlighted the impact, stating: “NIFT Patna has already conducted several successful training programmes for Jeevika Didis in Begusarai, which have led to significant improvements in their stitching skills and earning potential. With this MoU, the Jeevika Didis trained at the NIFT Extension Centre will now have direct access to formal industry jobs at ABFRL’s factory. Initially, 3.5 lakh women in the immediate region will benefit, and in the future, women from adjoining districts will also be included.”
The initiative bridges academic expertise with industry needs, positioning ABFRL’s new manufacturing unit in Begusarai as a hub of skill-based employment. By aligning women’s empowerment with industrial development, the NIFT–ABFRL partnership promises long-term social and economic transformation, paving the way for scalable models of academia–industry collaboration across India.
