Centre to consider Rs 100 crore subsidy to modernise coir looms

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

Addressing a press conference here after visiting several coir producing units in Alappuzha district, Mr Ramesh said he was shocked to see women working in 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 the 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 that the Coir Board had already received 20 orders for the 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 as a 'Town of Export Excellence' some time ago. While Rs 42 crore has been given as a Central grant for the project, the balance Rs 14 crore is to be contributed by the Kerala government and the other stakeholders.

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

Emphasising the need for value addition, Mr Ramesh said that 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 will be launched in collaboration with the surface transport, shipping and rural development ministries, he said.

Mr Jose said that 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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