Govt implements new schemes to boost silk sector

New Delhi: Government of India is implementing the Central Sector Scheme, “Silk Samagra” through Central Silk Board with a total outlay of Rs 2161.68 crore for three years (2017-2020) for development of sericulture in the country. It focuses on improving the quality and productivity of domestic silk thereby reducing the country’s dependence on imported silk. This information was provided by the Union Minister of Textiles, Ms Smriti Zubin Irani while speaking in the Rajya Sabha recently.

Under the scheme, assistance is extended to sericulture stakeholders for 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 equipment, door to door service agents for disinfection and input supply, support for Improved reeling units like Automatic Reeling units, multi-end Reeling machines, Improved Twisting machines and support for post yarn facilities for quality silk and fabric production.

Under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) implemented to promote Textile Industry in the North East Region by the Ministry of Textiles, 38 Sericulture projects have been implemented in the identified potential districts under three broad categories viz., Integrated Sericulture Development Project (ISDP) and Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture Development Project and Aspirational Districts. The total cost of these projects is Rs 1,106.97 crore, of which Government of India’s share is Rs 955.07 crore.

The objective of these projects is to establish sericulture as viable commercial activity in NER by creating necessary infrastructure and imparting skills to the locals for silkworm rearing and allied activities in the value chain.