Lok Sabha Question No. 712 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Silk production in North Eastern States
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Saikia Dilip

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 712 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## SILK PRODUCTION IN NORTH EASTERN STATES

## 712.   SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the huge potential in silk production and weaving in North Eastern States including Assam;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  action  plan  formulated  by  the  Government  to  promote,  augment  and  preserve  silk  production  and weaving; and
- (d) the fund earmarked by the Government for these schemes?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्रीमती स्मृतत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES

(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): Yes. The North Eastern Region (NER) of India has potential to produce all four varieties of silk viz. Mulberry, Tasar, Eri & Muga. Muga silk (also known as Golden Silk) is produced exclusively in Assam & border areas of Assam and the Eri silk is also produced mainly in NER states. Muga Silk of Assam has already been  registered  as  Geographical  Indication  (GI)  under  the  Rules  of  Intellectual  Property  Rights  of  Govt.  of India. The silk weaving sector of North Eastern States have a long tradition of Handloom weaving, Handicraft and  Sericulture.  However,  most  of  the  looms  produce  for  domestic  consumption.   The  variety-wise  raw  silk production during last 5 years and current year 2020-21 (till Nov-20) in NER state is given at Annexure-I.

(c) & (d): Ministry of Textiles, Government of India through Central Silk Board has implemented various schemes/projects to promote, augment and preserve silk production & weaving in the country including North Eastern  States  during  last  five  years  and  current  year  through  State  Sericulture  Departments. From  these schemes/projects, assistance is  extended to sericulture  stakeholders  for  infrastructure  development  through  the beneficiary oriented components like, raising of Kissan Nursery, Plantation  with improved Mulberry varieties, Irrigation,  chawki  rearing  centres  with  incubation  facility,  construction  of  rearing  houses,  rearing  equipments, support for improved reeling units like Automatic Reeling units, Multiend Reeling machines, Improved Twisting machines and support for post yarn facilities for quality Silk and fabric production. The details of the schemes are placed at Annexure-II.

The funds earmarked by the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India through Central Silk Board for these schemes during last 5 years & current year 2020-21 (Till Dec-2020) is given below:-

(Rs. In Crores)

| Scheme                                                                        |   Financial Assistance provided under the schemes for NER States |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI) (2015-16 &2016-17) |                                                            1.773 |
| Silk Samagra (2017-21)                                                        |                                                           17.243 |
| North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) (2014-15 to 2020-21)      |                                                          745.69  |

| Year                  | Raw Silk Production in NER States including Assam(MT)   | Raw Silk Production in NER States including Assam(MT)   | Raw Silk Production in NER States including Assam(MT)   | Raw Silk Production in NER States including Assam(MT)   | Raw Silk Production in NER States including Assam(MT)   |
|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                  | Mulberry                                                | Tasar                                                   | Eri                                                     | Muga                                                    | Total                                                   |
| 2015-16               | 319                                                     | 4                                                       | 5003                                                    | 166                                                     | 5491                                                    |
| 2016-17               | 397                                                     | 5                                                       | 5578                                                    | 170                                                     | 6150                                                    |
| 2017-18               | 367                                                     | 5                                                       | 6602                                                    | 191                                                     | 7166                                                    |
| 2018-19               | 586                                                     | 5                                                       | 6855                                                    | 233                                                     | 7679                                                    |
| 2019-20               | 492                                                     | 5                                                       | 7153                                                    | 240                                                     | 7891                                                    |
| 2020-21 (Till Nov-20) | 239                                                     | 4                                                       | 5317                                                    | 181                                                     | 5741                                                    |

## Annexure-II

-  Implemented a re-structured scheme of Catalytic Development Programme namely ' Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry' (ISDSI) during the year 2015-16 & 2016-17 by merging few important components of CDP under Central Sector Scheme.
-  Silk  Samagra: The  GOI  has launched  a  Central  Sector  Scheme 'Silk  Samagra' an  Integrated Scheme  for overall  Development  of  Silk  Industry  in  the  Country  at  a  total  Central  share  of Rs. 2161.68 Crore for implementation beyond XII Plan for three years 2017-20. The scheme has been continued for implementation during current year 2020-21 without any modifications.
-  North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS): This is  a  Central  Sector  scheme exclusively  approved  for North  East  Region.  Govt  of  India  has  given  special  emphasis  for consolidation  and  expansion  of  Sericulture  in  all  the  North  Eastern  States  with  critical interventions from host plantation development to finished products with value addition at every stage  of  production  chain.   Under  this  38  Sericulture  projects  have  been  approved  for implementation in all North Eastern States in the identified potential districts under four broad categories viz., Integrated Sericulture Development Project (ISDP), Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture  Development  Project  (IBSDP),  Eri  Spun  Silk  Mills  (ESSM)  and  Development  of Sericulture  in  Aspirational  Districts  (AD)  with  a  total  projects  cost  of  Rs.1,107.90  crore,  of which GoI share is Rs.956.01 crore.

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