The Government of Kerala will give top priority to resolving the issues faced by the coir sector and help the industry realise its full potential, the Chief Minister of Kerala, Mr Oommen Chandy, said. Inaugurating ‘Coir Kerala 2012,' an international meeting on coir and allied natural fibres, he said the coir industry which employs nearly 3.75 lakh people, faces multiple challenges, particularly in the form of low wages and poor socio-economic condition of coir workers and husk shortage.
Income supportfor coir workers
Mr Chandy said the State Government has already accepted the proposal to raise income support for coir workers. Another proposal to provide pensions to workers who retired prior to 2006 would be implemented following discussions with the finance department, he said.
The Government is also planning to boost husk procurement by encouraging voluntary organisations and groups such as Kudumbashree. He also emphasised the need to improve marketing of coir in such a way as to create a new “coir tourism” sector which could draw in more people from overseas to Kerala and boost the State's economy.
Husk shortage
As part of efforts to address husk shortage, the supply of mini de-fibering machines to co-operatives for free is being planned, while for Kudumbashree units it will be with 75 per cent subsidy, and for the private sector with 50 per cent subsidy. The Government targets generation of 60 lakh jobs in the sector a year, Mr Adoor Prakash, the Minister for Health and Coir, said.
Coir Kerala 2012 is into its second edition. It aims to showcase the exceptional quality and variety of coir produced in Kerala and is expected to take a leading role in driving the resurgence of the industry.
It is being held at EMS Stadium in Alappuzha — the centre of coir production — and has attracted around 85 buyers from 32 countries and nearly 140 domestic exhibitors this year, a press release issued here has said.