Stressing on the need to upgrade textiles machines, especially in the jute sector, Indian textiles minister Smriti Irani recently proposed to organise a Grand Machinery Challenge for the sector to throw up new technologies. She was speaking at the virtual awards ceremony function of the the Textile Grand Challenge 2019 organized by the ministry.
The ministry organized the competition with support from the National Jute Board and the Start-up India Team of the department for promotion of industry & industrial trade (DPIIT).
The aim of organising the competition was to bring forward innovative ideas by start-ups and entrepreneurs for development of cost-effective and low-weight carry bags using jute biomass, jute plant-based bio-polymer and cotton fibre waste to phase out plastic bags.
It is also an initiative towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’, under which innovative solutions were sought for alternative to plastic bags using domestic natural fibres, according to an official release.
A total of 67 entries were received for the challenge out of which three—two for ideas on alternative for single-use plastic bags and one for an idea on alternative for multi-use plastic bags—were awarded.
The winners are Awega Green Technologies, Pune; Dhriti BioSolutions, Mysuru; and Sakthi NonWovens, Chennai.
