Silk Board's STF submits action plan to Centre

Mysore, Mar 16 (UNI) The special task force of the Central Silk Board, comprising women board members and senior women officials to draw an effective action plan to be implemented during the 11th plan period, has submitted a comprehensive plan to the Union Government, city-based Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) Director Dr S B Dandin said today.

Addressing media persons here, he said the task force had met a few times and discussed the subject threadbare. The action plan addressed all key issues towards better empowerment of women involved in sericulture and silk industry.

Women constitute a major work force of agriculture in rural areas. Studies conducted on involvement of women in sericulture indicate that about 53 per cent women were being engaged in various activities. Of them, more than 60 per cent were involved in silkworm rearing, silk reeling, silk printing and dyeing and manufacture of readymade garments, he added.

Underlining that women need more technical know how, skill and practice in the activities in which they were more involved, Dr Dandin said an exclusive women oriented training programme, development of equipment - applications on ergonomic principle to reduce physical strain and drudgery of women sericulturists were the need of the hour. Considering the difficulties faced by women, procedures and formalities for extending financial assistance to take up sericulture should be simplified. Exclusive marketing facility in cocooon and silk market for women sericulturists and reelers was necessary, with provision for accommodation, space and safety.

He said promotion of group based activities and provisions for women to organise into self help groups and quality clubs to enable them to run chawki rearing centres, reeling units and garment manufacturing units as a group activitiy should be encouraged. An information and help line centre to provide sufficient information, exclusive training and market linkage for production and marketing of handicrafts from waste cocoons, silk yarn and garments, medical help line provisions for women to get treated for some occupational health hazards and medical insurance system should be addressed on priority, he added.

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