Decks have been cleared for according Footwear Design and Development Institute status of national institute with the Lok Sabha on Wednesday passing the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) Bill, 2017.
With this FDDI will enjoy similar importance and stature enjoyed by other premier national level institutes such as IIMs and IITs across the country.
The Bill was passed after a debate without taking into consideration the Opposition amendments.
Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her reply said with the passage of the Bill five new national level Footwear Design and Development Institutes (FDDI) will be added to the existing ones taking the total number to 12. She said in the existing seven institutes over 3,900 students are already enrolled.
With its headquarters in Noida, FDDI confers degrees and post graduate degrees on students. The minister said there was great demand for the courses being offered by FDDI. She said the institutes would help students brand their products on par with international competitors in the field.