Lok Sabha Question No. 5625 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Integrated Scheme for development of Silk Industry
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5625 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2019

## INTEGRATED SCHEME FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SILK INDUSTRY

## 5625. SHRI A. RAJA:

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

- (a) the features of the Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry;
- (b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized under this scheme till date across the country including Tamil Nadu;
- (c) the number of States/districts/villages covered so far under this scheme:
- (d) the details of employment generated specially for weaker sections of the society under this scheme till date across the country including Tamil Nadu;
- (e) whether  it  has  promoted  women  empowerment  and  livelihood  opportunities  to  the backward and weaker sections of the society; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the Government's response thereon?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्मृ तत ज़ू बिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a): Under  the Central Sector  Scheme  'Silk  Samagra' an Integrated  Scheme  for Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI) implemented by Government of India through Central Silk Board (CSB) with a total outlay of Rs. 2161.68 crore for three years (2017-18 to 201920) for the overall development of silk industry in the Country with an objective to scale up production  by  improving  the  quality  and  productivity.    The  scheme  comprises  four  major components  viz.  (i)  Research  &  Development,  Training,  Transfer  of  Technology  and Information  Technology  Initiatives,  (ii)  Seed  Organizations,  (iii)  Coordination  and  Market Development and (iv) Quality Certification Systems (QCS) / Export Brand Promotion and Technology Up-gradation.

## Features of the Scheme :

All the four major components of 'Silk Samagra' are interlinked with each other and aimed at a common goal. The main objective of the scheme is to maintain Breeders stock,  Breed  improvement  through  R&D  Projects,  Development  of  mechanized practices,  Technology  translation  through  Sericulture  Information  Linkages  and

Knowledge System (SILKS) Portal, Mobile Application for Stakeholders and for seed quality  monitoring,  develop  technology  packages,  impart  training  on  improved technology programmes to Stakeholders, and transfer technology to the field through front  line  demonstration,  produce  Basic  &  Commercial  Seed  of  the  improved Silkworm breeds developed by the Research Institutes, encourage Private Partnership in Seed sector, and Maintain & Certify the quality standards set by the R&D units for Silkworm Seed, Cocoon, Raw Silk and Silk products covering the entire Silk value chain.

## Major Interventions:

1. Research & Development : Race improvement through development of improved host  plant  varieties  and  improved  disease    resistant    Silkworm  breeds  through collaborative  research  with  reputed  National  Research  organizations  like  IITs, CSIR, IISc and International research institutes on Sericulture.
2. Seed organisation : Seed production units will be strengthened to bring in quality standards  in  production  network,  besides  increasing  the  production  capacity  to cater  to  the  increased  silk  production  target,  Promote  adopted  seed  rearers  to generate  quality  seed  cocoons,  Private  Graineurs  to  produce  quality  seed  and Chawki Rearing Centres (CRCs) with Incubation facilities to produce and supply chawki worms,
3. Quality  Certification  /Brand  Promotion:  Promote  Indian  silk  through  quality certification by Silk Mark not only in the domestic market but also in the Export market. Besides, emphasis has been given for use of Silkworm by-products (pupa) for  Poultry  feed,  Sericin  for  Cosmetic  Applications  and  Product  Diversification into non-woven fabrics, Silk Denim, Silk Knit etc. for value addition.

The  scheme  also  comprises  of  various  beneficiary  oriented  components  to  support Mulberry, Vanya and Post Cocoon Sectors. These interventions cover the major areas viz. (a) Development and expansion of host plant, (b) Strengthening and creation of Silkworm  seed  Multiplication  infrastructure,  (c)  Development  of  farm  and  postcocoon infrastructure, (d) Up-gradation of reeling and processing technologies in Silk, and  (e)  Capacity  Building  through  Skill  development  /  Enterprise  Development Programme.

The above scheme interventions are expected to increase /improve the production and productivity of silk. The details of expected outcome of the scheme are as under:-

-  Increase the Silk production from the level of 30,348 MTs (Metric Tonne) during 2016-17 to 38,500 MTs by end of 2019-20,
-  Increase  the  production  of  Bivoltine  Import  Substitute  Silk  to    8500  MTs  from 5266 MTs in 2016-17
-  Increasing  Vanya  Raw  Silk  production  to  11,500  MTs  from  9075  in  2016-17 MTs.
-  To produce International Grade Silk of 4A and above to minimize the import to bare minimum.
-  To generate additional employment to about 15 lakh person by reaching 100 lakh persons by end of March,2020 from the level of 85.10 lakh persons in 2016-17.

(b): The details of funds sanctioned/ allocated and utilized under 'Silk Samagra' scheme during  the  years  2017-18,  2018-19  and  2019-20  in  the  country  including  Tamil  Nadu  are given below:

(Rs. in crore)

| 2017-18               | 2017-18   | 2018-19               | 2018-19   | 2019-20               | 2019-20                    |
|-----------------------|-----------|-----------------------|-----------|-----------------------|----------------------------|
| Sanctioned/ allocated | Utilized  | Sanctioned/ allocated | Utilized  | Sanctioned/ allocated | Utilized (Till date, 2019) |
| 542.50                | 542.50    | 601.29                | 598.70    | 730.00                | 182.50                     |

The details of funds released in respect of Tamil Nadu State under  'Silk Samagra' towards  implementation  of  various  beneficiary  oriented  components  during  2017-18  and 2018-19 are given below:

| State                    |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |
|--------------------------|-----------|-----------|
| Tamil Nadu (Rs. in lakh) |   1110.44 |    622.42 |

(c): 82562 villages under 455 districts in 26 silk producing states have been covered under the scheme 'Silk Samagra'.

(d): Sericulture  is  an  agro-based  cottage  industry  having  huge  employment  and  income generating  potential  in  rural  and  semi-urban  areas.  It  is  estimated  that  sericulture  industry provides employment to approximately 91.20 lakh persons (including 3.40 lakh persons in the State of Tamil Nadu) in rural and semi-urban areas in the country as of March-2019. Of these, a sizeable number of workers belong to the economically weaker sections of society, including women. This is mainly due to implementation of Government schemes and efforts made by State/ Central Government.

(e) & (f): The main aim of 'Silk Samagra' Scheme is to empower downtrodden, poor & backward  tribal  families  through  various  activities  of  sericulture  in  the  country  including women.  Women  constitute  over  60%  of  those  employed  in  down-stream  activities  of sericulture like mulberry garden management, leaf harvesting and silkworm rearing etc. Even silk  reeling  industry  including  weaving  is  largely  supported  by  them.    An  average  of  30% women  beneficiaries  are  being  covered  under  the  'Silk  Samagra'.  Women  SHGs  are involved in implementation of various beneficiary oriented components  under 'Silk Samagra'  specially  group  activities.    Through  beneficiary  oriented  components  of  the scheme,  support  has  been  extended  under  Tribal  Sub  Plan  (TSP)  to  take  up  sericulture activities by tribal for their livelihood.  The scheme as employment provider tool improved the living standards and economic conditions of the downtrodden, poor, backward & tribal families by supporting to take up various sericulture activities for their livelihood.

***