In the meanwhile, ATDC is continuously expanding; recently it has opened a new Skill Development Centre in Vadnagar, Gujarat with the help of Sardar Patel Trust. The centre is equipped with 42 machines and will add 20 more machines, given the interest of local women to join the programme.
Questions on the working of ATDC (Apparel Training & Design Centre formed under the aegis of AEPC) are still unanswered. The recent news that a three-member committee has been formed by the Ministry of Textiles to investigate the working of ATDC and for checking issues like quality of training being provided and subsequent job placements of the students, seems to be either unfounded or squashed. It is rumoured that the top brass of AEPC objected to the investigation and requested the Ministry to stop the investigation orders. An official of the Ministry confirmed to Apparel Online that two of the so-called ‘investigating officers’ (one an IAS officer and the other a Director) did not receive any written order for the investigation, nor were they even aware that such a committee had been formed! What deepens the mystery is that an e-mail on behalf of the so-called ATDC scam team members was circulated to the industry bigwigs, claiming proof against corrupt officials in ATDC.
