Lok Sabha Question No. 141 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Development of Salt Industry
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.141. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 18 TH  JULY, 2016.

## DEVELOPMENT OF SALT INDUSTRY

## 141.   SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

be pleased to state: वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) the salient features of the current salt policy;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to formulate a new policy for development of the Salt Industry and if so, the details thereof along with its salient features;
- (c) the details of welfare fund/financial assistance provided to salt workers and their families during the last three years and the current year; and
- (d) the steps being taken for the welfare of salt workers?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् यवव द्यग ााज् यं ्रीस् वतं ््रभााा(स्रींतंरीिरंमलााीरीतंाांि( THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a): The  Salt  Commissioner  Organization  under  the  Ministry  of  Commerce  and Industry  (Department  of  Industrial  Policy  and  Promotion)  is  entrusted  with  the following functions for overall development of salt industry:
- (i) Management of Departmental salt lands including leasing of land for salt manufacture;
- (ii) Monitoring production, distribution, quality and prices of salt;
- (iii) Nodal Agency for monitoring production, distribution and quality control of iodized salt;
- (iv) Promotion of technological development and training of personnel;
- (v) Planning and execution of development and labour welfare schemes for salt workers;
- (vi) Promotion of exports and pre-shipment inspection of salt;
- (vii) Collection of Assignment Fee, Ground Rent; and
- (viii) Rehabilitation of Salt Works affected by natural calamities
- (b): The Government does not propose to formulate a new policy for development of the salt industry.
- (c): The details  of  welfare  fund/financial  assistance  provided  to  salt  manufacturers and their families during the last three years and current year are as under:
- (d): The Government has approved code of principles for execution of labour welfare and development schemes. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry through Salt Commissioner Organization is supplementing efforts of the State Governments in conducting  numerous  activities  for  welfare  of  salt  workers.  These  include construction  of  labour  rest  sheds,  organizing  general  medical  health  cum  eye camps, supplementing facilities in the hospitals for the benefit of salt workers like providing  ambulance,  capacity  building  for  transporting  and  storage  of  potable water,  laying  pipelines  for  supply  of  drinking  water,  etc.,  and  also  schemes  of improving brine supply, construction of roads, culverts, Bridges, protective bunds, improvement of infrastructure and mechanization of transport and harvesting of salt including R&D activities for improving the quality of salt. The Government is also  imparting  training  to  salt  workers  for  improving  their  skill  and  granting rewards to the meritorious children of the salt workers.

| Sr. No.   | Financial Year           | Development of Salt Industry   | Labour Welfare   |
|-----------|--------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------|
|           |                          | Amount (Rs lakh)               | Amount (Rs lakh) |
| 1.        | 2013-14                  | 33.92                          | 58.46            |
| 2.        | 2014-15                  | 1.52                           | 60.81            |
| 3.        | 2015-16                  | 9.49                           | 25.80            |
| 4.        | 2016-17 (up to May,2016) | Nil                            | Nil              |

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