(a): whether there had been any proposal from the Government of Kerala for establishing a Research and Management Institute for strengthening the R&D activities in the coir sector;
(b): if so, the details thereof; and
(c): the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES & AGRO AND RURAL INDUSTRIES ( SHRI MAHABIR PRASAD )
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b): The memorandum submitted by the government of Kerala
envisages establishing a Research and Management Institute,
exclusively for the coir sector, at a total cost of Rs. 1500
lakhs. As per their proposal, 75% of cost on the establishment of
the institute is to be met by the government of India and the
balance 25% by Government of Kerala.
(c): Since two established research institutes viz. Central Coir
Research Institute at Kalavoor (Alleppey) and Central Institute of
Coir Technology at Bangalore are already carrying out fundamental
and technological R&D activities covering different facets of the
industry right from the extraction of the fibre to the finishing
operations of coir products, there does not appear to be any need
to set up another research Institute for the same purpose.