Revival of sericulture sector must for state's development
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: April 21, 2022 -
IN a resource-starved and industrially backward state like ours there is absolutely no justification for procedural delay in tapping whatever potential the state has that could help improve the socio-economic condition of the people. Contrary to ostentatious speeches at election-related rallies and meetings to accelerate the pace of state's development there has been no significant changes at the ground level to corroborate that the poll promises have been delivered.
In-spite of the oft-repeated comments and assurances of transforming the economy through industrial development, import and purchase of almost everything from consumable items to raw materials for the handful of food processing units operational in the state underscore the heavy dependence on others at the expense of huge sum of money.
In short, the reality is that even after numerous planned economic strategies, the establishment has not been up to mark when it comes to providing basic infrastructure and resource base.
With exception of a handful of industries that specialise in production of packaged drinking water and seasonal fruit-based beverages, there is nothing to write about the state's industrial sector as most of the consumer goods continue to be brought in from other states or imported from south-east Asian countries via the neighbouring Myanmar.
As such, though belated, it is heartening to learn that the government is eyeing to reinvigorate the Sericulture Department, which used to play a vital role in creating employment opportunities and contributing to revenue generation.
In view of the rate of unemployment among the educated as well as Semi-literate youth increasing rapidly, it is refreshing to hear the commissioner (sericulture) Gyan Prakash expressing optimism of enlivening the department.
During his speech while inaugurating a two-day cocoon and silk fabrics exhibition cum fair at the project management complex, Sangaipat on Tuesday, the commissioner has been candid enough to admit that the department remained almost non-functional.
As majority of the projects taken up by the department in the past were implemented in association with or funding from Central Silk Board, it is understandable that lapse of the Japanese sericulture project rendered the department toothless.
As the department had been lying defunct for the past many years, the commissioner's announcement that the government is in the process of reviving the department by consulting with the finance department for submitting projects to the Central Silk Board might sound sceptical to many.
Nevertheless, if the department waste no time in preparing viable projects and forwarding the same to the Central Silk Board for approval, fund provision in particular, then there is strong possibility of the sericulture sector springing back to life.
Rather than pinning hope that the centre would splurge fund for big industrial projects, the state government should focus on small scale industries (SSIs) such as making sericulture sector the engine to drive its economy.
SSIs play an important role in employment creation, resource utilisation and income generation and helping to promote changes in a gradual and phased manner.
Manipur also has high potential for development of sericulture as majority of its population, the womenfolk in particular, in the rural areas are well acquainted with silkworm rearing, weaving cloths of varied types and the state itself is bestowed with ideal agro-climatic conditions for rearing of high yielding mulberry silkworm.
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