‘Centre,State should work together for uplifting coir sector’

Hon’ble Union Defence Minister 

Shri A K Antony said on Saturday that both the Union Government and the State Government should work together for uplifting Kerala’s coir sector which was the main income generator for

lakhs of workers.

“We should accept the fact that the sector is in crisis. The number of people taking up employment in coir sector has fallen in the last couple of years.
 The government should focus on coir sector and help the sector to regain its lost charm,” the Minister said inaugurating the Coir Kerala 2014, the fourth edition of the international event on coir and natural fibre products here.

“Though the figures show that the revenue from coir exports is increasing on a yearly basis, there are some problems hampering the development of the coir sector. The workers in the coir sector are not getting much of a benefit from the growth figures,” Shri Antony said. “We should implement various measures on a war footing to ensure sustainable development of the coir sector and the workers.”

He added that the government should also ensure steady availability of raw materials for the smooth functioning of the coir industry. “The government should look for diversifying the coir products through various modernisation schemes. The new products should cater to the changing tastes of the people,” Shri Antony said.

Hon’ble Minister for Revenue and Coir Shri Adoor Prakash said that the state government had already apprised the Union Commerce Ministry of the issues faced by the coir sector in the state.

“We have submitted a report before the Ministry on devising a scheme to procure husk and increase the price. The prime aim of the state government is to increase the wages of the coir workers. The state government, through the income support scheme, has already increased the daily wage from Rs 150 to Rs 260,” he said.

The Minister said that the government had already initiated several round of discussions with the Coconut Development Board for procurement of husk from the coconut farmers. “We need to bring in modernisation and mechanisation in the coir sector. The government is committed to the welfare of the coir sector and the coir workers. We have provided a fund of Rs 45 crore to Coirfed to pay off its debts,” he added.

Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shri K C Venugopal, in his key note address, said that the government should immediately formulate to a scheme for the debt-ridden coir workers who were facing legal proceedings from the bank. “The government should rein in the banks who have started proceedings against the coir workers,” he added.

Smt. Rani George, Secretary, Coir, said that the Coir Kerala had attracted buyers from across the world. “Around 17 new countries are attending the event. We have been successful in showcasing Kerala as a major producer of wide variety of coir products,” she added.

Later, the international pavilion at the event was inaugurated by Shri Adoor Prakash in the presence of former Coir Minister G Sudhakaran.

MLAs Shri P C Vishnunath, Shri P Thilothaman, Alappuzha Municipal Chairperson Smt Mercy Diana Macido, Coir Board Chairman Prof G Balachandran, former MLAs Shri A A Shukoor, Shri D Sugathan, Coir Development Director Dr K Madanan, Kerala State Coir Workers Welfare Fund Board Chairman Shri A K Rajan, Kerala State Coir Corporation Chairman Shri K R Rajendra Prasad, Foam Mattings (India) Ltd Chairman Shri C Venugopalan Nair, Coirfed Chief Administrator Shri K M Raju, NCRMI Director Shri K R Anil and Apex Body for Coir and Working Chairman Coir Kerala 2014 Shri M K Abdul Gafoor Haji were among the other dignitaries who attended the function.

Following the ceremony, Shri Adoor Prakash inaugurated the national and international pavilions in the presence of former Coir Minister Shri G Sudhakaran, MLA. They visited the stalls at both the pavilions.