m i n i s t r y o f t e x t i l e simprovement in productivity. TheHandicraft sector is also getting benefitthrough R&D works <strong>of</strong> IJIRA.IJIRA has three Regional Centres atShantipur (West Bengal), Guwahati(Assam) and Vizianagram (AndhraPradesh).WOOL<strong>RESEARCH</strong>ASSOCIATION, THANE (WRA)The Wool Research Association, Thanewas established and registered under theSocieties Registration Act 1860 inOctober 1963. It is engaged in variousactivities, necessary for the technologicalupgradation <strong>of</strong> the Indian WoollenIndustry, which include research anddevelopment work, special trainingprogramme, educational activities,foreign delegations’ visits, workshops andpaper presentations at national andinternational level. It has become anAssociate Member <strong>of</strong> International WoolTextile Organization (IWTO), Brussels,Belgium.Wool Research Association has thefollowing five departments – (i) QualityTest House - ISO 9001-2000 certified, (ii)Chemical Processing Laboratory, (iii) EcoTesting & Analytical Labotatory, (iv) TextileDesigning (CAD-CAM)-Woven & Knitted,and (v) Yarn & Fabric Manufacturing labs.Sponsored Projectsi) During 2003-04, the Khadi & VillageIndustries Commission, Mumbaisanctioned a ‘Science &Technology’ Project entitled“Introduction <strong>of</strong> Indian CrossbreedFine Wools for Woollen KhadiProducts like Shawls, Lohies, etc.”ii) The <strong>Ministry</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Textiles</strong>,Government <strong>of</strong> India sponsored thefollowing two projects to beundertaken by the Wool ResearchAssociation in collaboration with theCentral Silk Board, Bangalore:(a) Optimise Yarn ProcessingParameters for spun Yarn <strong>of</strong>Eri, Silk/Wool blends and todevelop value addedproducts; and(b) To design and fabricatesuitable machinery forprocessing silk and silk/woolblends upto yarn stage fordecentralized sector andcottage industry.Industrial Consultancy & TechnicalServicesThe Association provided variousindustrial consultancy and technicalservices to the Indian Woollen Industrythrough its established infrastructureduring 2003-04, which included thefollowing:●●Consultancy to M/s SiddharthColourchem in application &improved properties <strong>of</strong> metal freereactive dyes on wool;Consultancy to M/s BhutticoWeavers Society (Kullu) to set upa Dyeing & Finishing facility Centrefor shawls and other woollensmade from Wool/Angora &Pashmina;170
a n n u a l r e p o r t 0 4 - 0 5●●●Training programmes for dyeing inthe carpet, shawl and namda belts<strong>of</strong> the country;Consultancy in setting up miniscouringfacilities for wool producingareas in different States likeRajasthan, Himachal Pradesh,Jammu & Kashmir; andConsultancy to Dharamsi MorarjiChemicals in developing dyeingauxiliaries.1. Computer Aided Textile Designing2. Instrumental Chemical Analysis3. Textile Testing and Quality ControlOther Activities● Wool Research Associationconducted a dyeing trainingprogramme in Tonk, Jaipur(Rajasthan) to boost the growth <strong>of</strong>the Namada industry through bettervalue addition.Short Term CoursesWRA conducted short term courses byimparting training in textile testing andresearch in the field <strong>of</strong> textile technology,specifically wool technology, and alsoconducted the following tailor-made shortduration courses for the benefits <strong>of</strong> cottageand organized woollen industry:●The in-plant training for degreestudents <strong>of</strong> Textile and EngineeringInstitute, Ichalkaranji was arrangedat WRA. The students benefitedfrom different aspects like ComputerAided Textile Designing, Tie & DyeTechniques for wool, wool testingand mechanical processing etc.171