Govindas proposes Sericulture Project-II in State
Source: Hueiyen News Service / MIC
New Delhi, October 10 2013 :
Manipur Minister of Commerce and Industries and Sericulture Govindas Konthoujam has proposed to the Union Ministry of Textiles to introduce the scheme for setting up of Mega Handloom Cluster as a national scheme subject to the minimum of 50000 weavers population of the State concerned as the minimum criteria.
Govindas also proposed to the Ministry for implementation of the Manipur Sericulture Project Phase-II at the cost of Rs.291.00 crore over a period of 4 years from 2013-14 for generating a target of new employment to 46933 families with an additional area of 1,000 hectares.
He was speaking at the State Textiles Ministers' conference held at Vigyan Bhawan here on Wednesday with Union Minister of Textiles Dr.Kavuru Sambasiva Rao in the chair.
Govindas Konthoujam said, "As a tradition, the Ministry of Finance, Government of India usually announced the package for setting up of Mega Handloom Cluster in India .
As reported in the National Handloom Census 2009-10; about 60% of the total weavers of the country are inhabited in the North Eastern Region.
The handloom sector in Manipur is indeed capable of exponential growth, with proper identification of its needs, a reasonable level of resource input and structural attention" .
He also mentioned that it was a matter of pride that hand weaving formed a part of socio-cultural tradition of Manipur which had a rich cultural heritage.
It was the highest employment generation next only to agriculture in the State.
Most of the families depended on handloom for livelihood.
The National Handloom Census 2009-10 reported that Manipur had 2.04 lakh handloom workers which shared 5.30% of all India and 1.90 lakh looms which shared 8.02% of all India .
Moreover, Manipur had highest concentration of both looms and weavers in the country with 7% and 7.5% respectively, he added.
Manipur Minister of Commerce and Industries also highlighted various schemes taken up in Manipur under the assistance of the Union Ministry of Textiles.
He stated that the Integrated Handloom Village Development Project was taken up in the State from 1991 to 1996 and covered 11000 weavers in 11 villages at the cost of Rs.2.00 crore; the Project Package Scheme from 1991 to 1998 covering 3794 weavers at the cost of Rs.10.84 crore and the Deen Dayal Hathkargha Protsahan Yojana from 1999 to 2007 covering 16538 weavers of 326 weavers' cooperative societies with the cost of Rs.20.48 crore.
He further said, "The State is presently implementing 66 numbers of cluster projects and 347 numbers of group approach projects under Integrated Handloom Development Scheme from 2007-08 till date covering 33000 weavers directly and 8800 weavers indirectly with a total project cost of Rs.38.92 crore" .
He added, "A total of 570 individual weavers at the cost of Rs.1.48 crore have been given benefit under Weavers' Credit Cards, 51135 weavers under Health Insurance and 17000 weavers under Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana.
So far, outstanding loan of Rs.313.32 lakh has been waived off in respect of 4 Banks and recapitalization of one Apex society for Rs.33.24 lakh under Revival Package" .
He further stated that the Union Ministry of Textiles also sanctioned Rs.94.00 lakh to set up a Powerloom & Allied Service Centre for promotion and training of weavers in Manipur.
The State Govt.had installed three power-looms including one shuttle-less and one sectional warping machine in Imphal.
Describing the handicrafts industry was one of the important traditional industries in Manipur having its own unique identity amongst the various crafts of the country; the Minister Govindas reported that the State Government took up the State Awards to outstanding crafts-persons, Modernization of Handicrafts, Development of Kouna (water reed) products, Equipment subsidy to ex-trainees.
So far, 188 Crafts-persons were awarded since 1979-80.The Ministry of Textiles had been providing pension to the State Awardees at the rate of Rs.1,000/- p.m.after attaining the age of 60 years till death.
He went on to say that the Union Ministry of Textiles sanctioned various Central Plan Schemes namely, Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana, Technological & Marketing Intervention, Product Development Programme for Exports, Integrated Design Development Projects, Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana, Bima Yojana and Shilp Guru Award through the branch offices of DC (Handicrafts) towards the development of textiles in Manipur.
The Minister also reported, "The State Government is taking up initiative for implementation of Mega Handicrafts Clusters in Manipur with the financial assistance of the Ministry of Textiles, Govt.of India.
The State is also contemplating to set up one more Urban Haat at Bishnupur District.
Describing Manipur as one of the unique States in the country where four varieties of silk namely, Tasar, Mulberry, Eri and Muga were grown; the Minister said that the Japan Bank of International Co-operation (JBIC) funded the Phase-I Programme of Silk development during 1998-2008.Under the programe, 1700 Hectares was added under Mulberry.
So far, Rs.102.06 crore was spent out of Rs.299.90 crore till the end of 2011-12.The cumulative physical achievement of all four verities till the end of 2011-12 was 1641.87 MT for a value of Rs.214.27 crore.
The Minister Govindas proposed to the Union Ministry of Textiles for implementation of the Manipur Sericulture Project Phase-II at the cost of Rs.291.00 crore over a period of 4 years from 2013-14 for generating a target of new employment to 46933 families with an additional area of 1,000 hectares.
Manipur Commerce Industries Director B.John Tlangtinkhuma,IAS and Deputy Director of Industries Kaphunchung Lamlee Kamei accompanied the Minister in the Conference.
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