Priority for job creation in coir sector, says Minister Adoor Prakash

Alappuzha: Minister for Revenue and Coir Shri Adoor Prakash today said the government is committed to creating more job opportunities in the coir sector and improving the conditions of the thousands of people employed in the industry; and initiatives such as the annual Coir Kerala international trade event are aimed at meeting these objectives.

In his address after inaugurating the reception committee office of Coir Kerala 2014 at Hotel Raiban here, Shri Adoor Prakash said event which will be held in Alappuzha from February 1 to 5, will help thousands of traditional workers in the coir sector by creating employment, boosting exports and bringing new technologies into the industry.

Recalling that he had the opportunity to meet hundreds of coir workers and listen to their grievances during the previous edition of Coir Kerala, the Minister pointed out that he had then assured them of visiting their work place to assess the working conditions.

Shri Adoor Prakash said that he witnessed the difficulties faced by the workers while visiting a few societies.

“I am not blaming the societies but would like to categorically make it clear that the societies should utilise the money sanctioned by the government for providing more jobs to the workers. There are societies that have funds but fail to give jobs to the workers,” he said. “But we should also not forget that there are good societies that provide regular bonuses to the workers.”

The Minister said that the government has been able to scale up coir exports besides making considerable progress in the domestic market. In 2012-13, the export of coir products was around Rs. 1,152 crore, up from Rs 1,052 crore the previous year. The figures for 2013-14 are yet to be finalised but the government is confident that it would be better than the previous year, he said.

Shri Adoor Prakash said that Coir Kerala 2014 will receive central assistance to the tune of Rs 1.75 crore. The Union government has already earmarked a similar assistance for the next edition of Coir Kerala, he said.

Shri G Sudhakaran, MLA, was present at the inauguration of the reception committee office. Dr K Madanan, Director, Coir Development, presided over the inaugural meeting.

Former MLAs Shri A.A. Shukoor and Shri D.Sugathan;  Shri A K Rajan, Chairman,  Coir Workers Welfare Board; Shri K R Rajendraprasad, Chairman,  KSCC;  Shri K M Raju, Chief Administrator,  Coirfed; Shri K R Bageeradhan, Chairman,  ACCDS;, Dr K R Anil, Director,  NCRMI;  Shri G  N Nair, Managing Director,  KSCC; Shri Munjinatt Ramachandran,  Managing Director,  Fomil;  Dr B Sreekumar,  Managing Director,  Coirfed;  Shri V S Mani, CITU State Vice president; Shri V C Alosious,  INTUC secretary;  Shri P V Satyanesan, AITUC State Committee member; and Shri M K Vishwanathan,  Project Officer (Coir) spoke