Centre to consider Rs 100 crore subsidy for modern coir looms

Kochi, Oct 12 (UNI) Declaring that the coir industry was in urgent need of modernisation, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh today said the Centre was willing to consider a Rs 100 crore subsidy to instal 100,000 pneumatic looms over the next five years.

Addressing the press here after visiting several coir producing units in Alappuzha district, Mr Ramesh said he was shocked to see women complete drudgery with technology dating to the 18th century.

'I am told that Rs 100 crore is needed as subsidy to instal 100,000 pneumatic looms. I have asked Coir Board Chairman A C Jose to prepare a project proposal and forward it to the Central Government for consideration. Maybe a 50:50 Central and State government subsidy scheme can be worked out,' he added.

Mr Ramesh said modernisation of the coir sector should be among the foremost priorities of the Board in the 11th five-year plan starting in April, 2007.

Mr Jose said the Coir Board had already received 20 orders for two pneumatic looms, 'Anupam' and 'Anugraha', developed by its research and development wings recently.

Mr Ramesh said a Rs 56 crore 'Cluster Development Project' had been approved for Alappuzha, which had been declared a 'Town of Export Excellence' sometime ago. While Rs 42 crore had been given as a Central grant for the project, the balance Rs 14 crore was to be contributed by the Kerala government and other stakeholders.

Apart from this, 24 other coir clusters were being developed in several other states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep and Goa. The Centre had allocated Rs one crore each for development of these 24 clusters, he added.

Emphasising the need for value-addition, Mr Ramesh said new products such as rubber coir mattresses and coir pith had already made a mark for themselves in overseas markets.

He identified geo-textiles as a major application for coir, especially in the construction of roads and highways.

A major project for geo-textiles application would be launched in collaboration with the surface transport, shipping and rural development ministries, he said.

Mr Jose said the Defence Ministry had also agreed to use geo-textiles for surfacing border roads. A US$ 40,000 contract had also been signed recently with Kuwait to supply coir pith.

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