Lok Sabha Question No. 508 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-23
Subject: Extinction of Traditional Industries
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: PRATHAP SIMHA, RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.508

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2015

**EXTINCTION OF TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES**

508. 	SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state:

(a) 	whether the world famous and indigenous Mysore silk saree production of Karnataka and traditional Banarasi and Pochampalli silk industry is on the verge of extinction and the fate of the Mulberry raw silk grower is at risk;

(b) 	if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(c) 	the steps taken by the Government to safeguard the livelihood of Mulberry raw silk farmers, promote and motivate the farmers and escalate the mulberry silk production in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in order to develop the national and international market alongwith the rehabilitation of the weavers engaged in the traditional Banarasi and Pochampalli silk industry?

उत्तर

ANSWER

वस्त्र राज्‍य मंत्री (स्वतंत्र प्रभार) (श्री संतोष कुमार गंगवार)

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES

(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

**(a):** No, Madam.

**(b):** Does not arise.

**(c):** The Government of India has implemented Catalytic Development Programme (CDP) in association with the States to promote and motivate the mulberry silk farmers to increase the production of silk in traditional States. The silk production in these States has increased over the years. The silk production in traditional States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and

Kashmir, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal during the last three years is given as under:-

| **Mulberry Silk Production in Traditional States   (in M.Ts)**   |             |             |             |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| State   /   Year                                                 | **2012-13** | **2013-14** | **2014-15** |
| **Karnataka**                                                    | 8,219       | 8,574       | 9,645       |
| **Andhra Pradesh**                                               | 6,550       | 6,911       | 6,485       |
| **Telangana**                                                    | --          | --          | 100         |
| **Tamil Nadu**                                                   | 1,185       | 1,120       | 1,602       |
| **West Bengal**                                                  | 2,018       | 2,029       | 2,450       |
| **Jammu/Kashmir**                                                | 145         | 136         | 147         |

Government of India through Central Silk Board has taken several steps to strengthen and promote the silk industry in the country. Some of them are -Evolvement of improved mulberry varieties and high yielding bivoltine silkworm breeds capable of producing high quality silk suitable for various agro climatic conditions, development of  low cost technology packages to reduce heavy dependency on labour and the  profitability,  providing support for NGOs and Community Based Organizations to promote farmers groups to facilitate technology transfer through group and cluster approach, taking up Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture Development Projects to promote farmers to produce high quality bivoltine silk, establishing large scale reeling units such as fully Automatic Reeling units with a view to produce international quality raw silk of uniform grade, implementing Catalytic Development Programme in association with the States for complete and holistic development of sericulture industry in the country for sustainable development of silk industry in terms of quality and quantity improvement, convergence with other schemes of Government such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) & Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) etc.

In addition to the above, a concerted effort and campaign is made through Silk Mark Organization of India (SMOI) to promote and establish ‘Indian Silk’ as a brand in global market. Generic promotion of Indian silk is also taken up to create awareness about exclusive and rich traditional designs of silk weaving clusters like Kanchipuram, Banaras, Pochampalli, Maheshwari, Bhagalpur etc. The Government of India has also been giving financial assistance to the State Government/ State Government Agencies for development of handloom clusters and for organization  of National Handloom Expos, Special Handloom Expos and District level events to sell handloom products including Banarasi, Pochampalli and Mysore silk sarees in order to develop National and International markets.  An  e-commerce (online marketing) facility has also been launched to enable the agencies to sell their products. These products are also registered under Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 to safeguard the interest of weavers engaged in production of Banarasi, Pochampali and Mysore silk sarees.  Further, an Automatic Reeling Unit has been recently set up in Murshidabad under Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS). The unit is producing 100 kg. of reeled yarn per day to provide quality yarn to weavers of the country including West Bengal.

**********