Lok Sabha Question No. 5533 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-02
Subject: Budgetory Allocation to Rubber Board
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5533 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02 nd  APRIL,2018

## BUDGETORY ALLOCATION TO RUBBER BOARD

## 5533. SHRI JOSE K. MANI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that most of the budgetory allocation to the Rubber Board is spent as establishment expenditure on the wages and allowances of the staff, leaving only a small portion of the total allocation for the welfare of rubber farmers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken steps to optimize the establishment expenditure of  the  Rubber  Board  and/or  extend  financial  assistance  to  the  Board  to  ensure sufficient spending on the stakeholders; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b):  Yes Madam.  Around 77 percent of the total budgetary allocation of the Rubber Board is spent on establishment expenditure, which results in lesser allocation for implementation of the various activities to be taken  up  for  development  of  Natural  Rubber  sector  including  the  welfare  of  rubber  farmers.    Details  are  at Annexure .

(c)& (d):Several steps have been taken by the Rubber Board to optimise its establishment expenditure which inter-alia  includes  reorganization  /  restructuring  of  offices  and  establishment,  reduction  of  sanctioned  staff strength, centralization of salary and wage payments and merger of different departmentsin Head office.  Efforts have  also  been  made  for  more  budgetary  allocation  to  the  Rubber  Board  and  increase  of  Internal  and  Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) of the Rubber Board.

Besides, Rubber Board is also carrying out developmental activities to support growers through convergence of schemes  with  Central  and  State  Ministries/agencies.    For  instance,  the  Rubber  Board  implemented  skill development activities under Pradhan MantriKuashalVikasYojana (PMKVY) in 2017-18 with an outlay of Rs. 6.17  crores.  Further  a  scheme  'Rubber  Production  Incentive  Scheme'  is  under  implementation  by  Govt.  of Kerala for providing financial support to rubber growers in which the difference between the Scheme Reference Price of Rs. 150/per kg. and the daily market price is credited to the bank account of the farmer directly on the basis of purchase bills.  The Scheme is operated through Rubber Producers Societies (RPS) promoted by Rubber Board.

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## Medium Term Framework (2017-18 to 2019-20)

| Components and approved outlay (Rs Crore)   | Components and approved outlay (Rs Crore)                                              | Components and approved outlay (Rs Crore)   | Components and approved outlay (Rs Crore)   | Components and approved outlay (Rs Crore)   | Components and approved outlay (Rs Crore)   |
|---------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| S. No                                       | Component                                                                              | 2017-18                                     | 2018-19                                     | 2019-20                                     | Total                                       |
| 1.                                          | Rubber Plantation Development &Extension                                               | 25.02                                       | 31.27                                       | 40.33                                       | 96.62                                       |
| 2.                                          | Rubber Research                                                                        | 3.00                                        | 4.31                                        | 6.76                                        | 14.07                                       |
| 3.                                          | Support for processing& marketing, infrastructure development and specialised services | 7.99                                        | 9.11                                        | 8.35                                        | 25.45                                       |
| 4.                                          | Human Resources Development                                                            | 3.00                                        | 3.94                                        | 4.87                                        | 11.81                                       |
| 5.                                          | Pending liability                                                                      | 18.00                                       | 0                                           | 0                                           | 18.00                                       |
| 6.                                          | Salary &Pension                                                                        | 142.67                                      | 152.66                                      | 163.35                                      | 458.68                                      |
| 7.                                          | Increase in salary due to 7 th CPC                                                     | 9.43                                        | 10.09                                       | 10.80                                       | 30.32                                       |
| 8.                                          | Increase in allowance due to 7 th CPC                                                  | 5.00                                        | 5.35                                        | 5.72                                        | 16.07                                       |
| 9.                                          | Arrear of 7 th CPC                                                                     | 14.96                                       | 0                                           | 0                                           | 14.96                                       |
| 10.                                         | Establishment Cost (other than salary &Pension)                                        | 12.00                                       | 12.00                                       | 12.00                                       | 36.00                                       |
| Total                                       | Total                                                                                  | 241.07                                      | 228.73                                      | 252.18                                      | 721.98                                      |

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## Annexure