Anand Sharma lays foundation stone of NID, blasts Opposition

KURUKSHETRA: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma today said the National Institute of Design (NID) has been declared as a Centre of Excellence, but regretted that a bill in this regard could not be passed in the Parliament because Opposition parties hindered its smooth functioning.


The Bill is expected to be passed in the next session of Parliament, Sharma said after laying the foundation stone of NID at Umri village in Kurukshetra district, which would be the country's second after NID, Ahmedabad.

Japan would provide technological assistance to bring NID, Kurukshetra on the global map, he said.

Haryana has now become the first state in the northern region to have such an institute, he said in presence of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Lashing out at the Opposition, Sharma said, "Due to the Opposition's irresponsible attitude, several other bills of national importance including the Food Security Bill could not be discussed in the Parliament."

However, he hoped that the Opposition would realise its responsibility and play a constructive role in the next session of Parliament.

NID at Kurukshetra would be spread over an area of about 20 acres and would entail an investment of Rs 160 crore.

The land for this institute has been provided free by the Haryana government.

Different disciplines of design would be offered in the institute and it would provide world class design education and training to professionals in the field of animation, film, exhibition, graphics, product, ceramic and glass, lifestyle and furniture and interior design.

Sharma said, Japan has also assured collaboration and investment in the main industrial townships of Manesar-Bawal being developed under the Delhi-Mumbai Corridor.

Eight new Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), seven Indian Institute of Management (IIM), five new Institute of Science were being set up in the country, Sharma said.