In News: The Minister of Textiles has informed Rajya Sabha about the implementation of Silk Samagra Scheme for Development of Sericulture.
About Silk Samagra
- It is initiated by the Central Silk Board.
- The main objective of the scheme is to maintain Breeders stock, Breed improvement through R&D Projects, Development of mechanized practices, Technology translation through Sericulture Information Linkages and Knowledge System (SILKS) Portal, Mobile Application for Stakeholders and for seed quality monitoring etc.
- The main aim of “Silk Samagra” Scheme is to empower downtrodden, poor & backward tribal families through various activities of sericulture in the country including women
- While the R&D units develop technology packages, impart training on improved technology programmes to stakeholders and transfer the technology to the field through front line demonstration, the seed production units produce basic and commercial seed of the improved Silkworm breeds developed by the Research Institutes.
- The units under the Quality Certification System maintain and certify the quality standards set by the R&D units for Silkworm seed, cocoon, raw Silk and Silk products covering the entire Silk value chain.
- 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 and rearing equipment.
- The scheme also provides assistance for 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.
- It comprises the following four components:
- Research & Development, Training, Transfer of Technology and I.T. Initiatives
- Seed Organizations
- Coordination and Market Development, and
- Quality Certification Systems (QCS)/Export Brand Promotion and Technology Up-gradation.
Sericulture in India:
- Sericulture is an agro-based cottage industry having huge employment and income generating potential in rural and semi-urban areas.
- It is estimated that the sericulture industry provides employment to approximately 91.20 lakh persons (including 3.40 lakh persons in the State of Tamil Nadu) in rural and semi-urban areas in the country as of March-2019.
- Of these, a sizable number of workers belong to the economically weaker sections of society, including women. This is mainly due to implementation of Government schemes and efforts made by the State/ Central Government.
Silk Production in India
- There are five major types of silk of commercial importance, obtained from different species of silkworms. These are Mulberry, Oak Tasar & Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri.
- Except for mulberry, other non-mulberry varieties of silks are wild silks, known as vanya silks.
- India has the unique distinction of producing all these commercial varieties of silk.
- South India is the leading silk producing area of the country and is also known for its famous silk weaving enclaves like Kancheepuram, Dharmavaram, Arni, etc.
The Central Silk Board
- It is a statutory body established in the year 1948 by an Act of Parliament.
- It is working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
- Its headquarter is located in Bangalore.
- It is mandated with:
- Promoting the development of the Silk Industry by such measures as it thinks fit.
- Undertaking ,assisting or encouraging scientific, technological and economic research.
- Advising the Central Government on all matters relating to the development of silk industry including import and export of raw silk.
- Preparing and furnishing such other reports relating to the silk industry as may be required by the Central Government from time to time.
Source: PIB
