Question : WELFARE PACKAGE FOR WORKERS IN CRACKER INDUSTRY

(a) whether ninety percent crackers in the country are being manufactured in Sivakasi, Tamilnadu;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether there is any proposal to establish Cracker Research Centre (CRC);

(d) if so, the details thereof and name of the place where such centre is proposed to be established;

(e) the details of foreign exchange earned through export of crackers;

(f) if so, the details thereof;

(g) whether the Government has formulated any welfare package for the workers engaged in cracker Industry; and

(h) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

(a)&(b): Yes, Madam. Approximately Ninety percent of the fire crackers manufactured in the country are at Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. Around 670 units at Sivakasi are manufacturing fireworks of approximately Rs. 700 crores.

(c)&(d): Yes, Madam. Fireworks Research and Development Centre (FRDC) has been set up at Anaiyur Village, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu to address the issues of personnel safety, mechanization of fireworks industry, quality assurance and Environment Friendly Fireworks.

(e)&(f): The details of the revenue earned on export of the fireworks for the last 5 years is given as below:

Year	Value of Export of Fireworks (in Rupees)

2004 to 2005	Rs. 39,13, 876

2005 to 2006	Rs. 69, 02, 102

2006 to 2007	Rs. 50,10, 887

2007 to 2008	Rs. 16, 71, 792

2008 to 2009	Rs. 7, 87, 000