Central Silk Board seeks more proposals from Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: The Central Silk Board (CSB) has sought proposals from the State Government under the Central Sponsored Schemes (CSS) for development of silk industry in Odisha. Speaking to mediapersons here on Sunday, chairman of CSB KM Hanumantharayappa said the board has earmarked a budget of `6.3 crore for the State in the current fiscal. “We have already sanctioned `94 lakh and asked the State to send us more proposals,” he said.

As promised by Union Minister for Textile and Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani during International Women’s Day last year to replace thigh reeling, Hanumantharayappa said Odisha has so far been provided 106 Buniyad machines. “The machines have been  distributed among women reelers in Fakirpur and Ata areas of Keonjhar district. Now, they can extract high quality silk yarn through the newly developed machine. There is a demand for about another 400 machines which will be provided soon,” he assured.

Odisha is predominantly a tasar producing State but Mulberry and Eri are also practised to some extent. The rich endowment of forest, hilly terrains and tribal population enhance State’s agro-climatic condition for tasar forestry.

The CSB chairman said emphasis has also given for increase of Mulberry Silk in the State. Two cluster-based programmes are being implemented in Ghatgaon block of Keonjhar and Kashipur in Rayagada district, he added.

“The CSB has provided `12.3 crore for implementation of Vanya Cluster Promotion Programme (VCPP) besides Promotion of Tasar Culture under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts where around 1,500 farmers have benefited. The beneficiaries have been provided 90 per cent assistance as subsidy,” he informed.

Through capacity building and adoption of new technologies, Superintendent (Technical) and CSB Regional Office in-charge Dasharathi Behera said, there was increase in tasar productivity resulting in additional economic gain of farmers.

“With the allotment of `94 lakh, we have implemented Schedule Caste Special Plan in Bhuasuni area of Mayurbhanj where 300 families will benefit. Besides, for Buniyad machines, costing about `10,000 each, subsidy of `9,000 has been provided to the women reelers,” he added.

The State has produced 125 tonne of silk, including 115 tonne of tasar silk last year. Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh are the major tasar producing districts. About 20,000 tribal families in the State are practising sericulture of which, more than 16,000 are tasar farmers.