(a) whether any projects are being carried out for the Cotton Industries of Rural India
by the Government;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government propose to develop the rural cotton farmers` skill under
the Rural Development Scheme;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SUBASH MAHARIA)
(a)&(b): The Ministry of Textiles have informed that the following two important schemes are being implemented for development of textiles industry in the country:
(i) Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme(TUFS):
The TUFS is under implementation w.e.f. 1.4.1999. It aims at modernization of textile and jute industry. The scheme provides for reimbursement of 5% interest on the loan availed of by the investor from the concerned nodal agency (IDBI, SIDBI and IFCI) and co-opted agencies. Government provides fund towards 5% interest reimbursement to the nodal agencies.
As on 30th June, 2000, a total of 612 applications were received out of which 424 applications with loan amount of Rs.3084 crore were sanctioned and 247 applications with a loan amount of Rs.1002 crore were disbursed.
(ii) Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC):
TMC has been launched from 1999-2000. The main objectives of the scheme are to improve the productivity and quality of cotton in order to make quality cotton available to the textile industry and ensure remunerative price to the cotton farmers. It consists of four Mini Missions (MM), viz. MM-I, II , III & IV. MM-I & II are being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research ( ICAR) and MM-III & IV by the Ministry of Textiles through Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).
The improvement of market yards to reduce contamination in cotton is covered under MM-III while modernization of ginning & pressing factories are covered under MM-IV.
As on 30th June, 2000, a total of 28 market yards and 15 ginning & pressing factories have been approved for modernization under the Technology Mission on cotton.
(iii) The Cotton Corporation of India, the PSU under the Administrative Control of the Ministry of Textiles also, apart from its primary functions of commercial operations and Minimum Support Price Operations, has initiated certain extension activities viz. adoption of villages, distribution of certified high yielding cotton seeds, distribution of pesticides, surveillance of cotton crops under which training to rural cotton farmers for creating awareness on cotton cultivation is imparted.
(c)(d)&(e): There is no separate scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development to develop skill of the rural cotton farmers. The rural cotton farmers belonging to the BPL families ( Below Poverty Line), however, can be provided skill development training under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) for self-employment if they are selected and assisted under the SGSY.