(a) whether the Government has sponsored any Project on utilization of Lantana Camara;
(b) if so, when this project was sponsored and the financial outlay of the project;
(c) the broad objectives of this project alongwith the success achieved so far; and
(d) the time by which it is likely to be completed?
MINISTER OF TEXTILES ( SHRI SHANKERSINH VAGHELA)
(a) to (d): No project has been sanctioned for utilization of Lantana Camara in handicraft sector. However, a design development workshop was conducted in Lantana Craft through M/s Raghvendra Rural Development Research Organisation, Lucknow (U.P.) at Khawaspurwa Balrampur Distt. (U.P.) during the year 2003-04 with the objective to develop new design proto types to diversify the product line to enhance sale. An amount of Rs.1.80 lakh was sanctioned for this purpose. In all 18 prototypes were developed and 33 craftpersons benefited from this workshop.