Lok Sabha Question No. 1252 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Promoting Silk in Global Market
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Behanan Benny

- (a) & (b):

## PROMOTING SILK IN GLOBAL MARKET

## 1252.     SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is introducing new schemes to promote silk in global market;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  recent  endeavours  made  to  eradicate  thigh  reeling  practices  and  introduce  modern machines;
- (d) whether any mobile application was launched for quality certification in silkworm seed sector ; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्मृ तत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

Following initiatives are taken for the promotion of Indian silk in the global market.

- i.) Central Silk Board (CSB) introduced ' Silk Samagra' (2017-2020) for overall development of the silk sector to meet domestic as well as global requirements. Under the Scheme, Govt. of India  through  CSB  provides  support  to  establish  Automatic  Reeling  Machines  (ARMs)  to produce international grade quality raw silk to cater to the needs of the domestic as well as export  markets.  In  addition,  support  is  also  extended  to  establish  Arm  dyeing  and  fabric processing  units  to  produce  export  quality  silk  materials  such  as  denim  Knitwear,  crepe, Georgette, Chiffon & union fabrics.
- ii.) Under Quality Certification Systems/Brand Promotion component of ' Silk Samagra' , CSB is popularising 'Silk Mark', an assurance label for purity of silk products through the Silk Mark Organisation  of  India  (SMOI)  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  consumers  from  the  traders selling artificial silk products in the name of pure silk.
- iii.) SMOI is participating in the international exhibitions such as 'India International Silk Fair', 'Heimtextil  (India)',  'Who's  next',  etc.,  to  increase  the  awareness  about  the  'Indian  Silk' among  the  foreign  buyers.  'Buyers  Seller  Meets',  Fashion  Shows  etc.,  are  arranged coinciding with major events to attract global markets.
- iv.) Further,  as  a  support  to  the  silk  export  business,  Ministry  of  Commerce  (MOC)  is  also implementing schemes such as Merchandise Export from India (MEIS) scheme wherein the duty scrip as an incentive to an extent of 2% to 5% is provided to silk products to boost the exports. In addition, support is also extended under EPCG, EOU schemes of MOC.
- (c): Traditionally, tasar yarn is reeled manually by the women folk, using thigh for reeling, which is  unhygienic  and  against  dignity  of  women.  In  order  to  replace/eradicate  thigh  reeling,  the Buniyaad reeling machine has been developed and popularized. Upto March-2019, 4530 Buniyad reeling machines have been distributed among the tribal women under ' Silk Samagra'
- (d) & (e): Yes, Sir. CSB has developed an Android based mobile application 'e-cocoon' for onsite/online reporting of the inspection proceeds of Seed officers (SO) and Seed Analysts (SA). The 'e-cocoon' was launched in 'Surging Silk' Mega Event held on 09.02.2019 at New Delhi. This mobile app will help in real-time reporting of field visits/activities by the SOs & SAs.