Question : SILK BLENDED YARNS

(a) Whether the Union Government has received any proposal from the Govt. of Karnataka regarding (i) the process of development and optimization for production of silk blended yarns and fabrics, and (ii) conducting studies on the promotion of Seri silk worm rearing as subsistence sustainable occupation in the State;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the action taken thereon; and

(d) the time by which these proposals are likely to be cleared by the Government?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SHRI E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)

(a)
(i) The Government of India has not received any proposal from the Government of Karnataka regarding the process of development and optimization for production of Silk blended yarns and fabrics.

(ii)Regarding promotion of Eri Silkworm rearing as sustainable occupation in the State, Central Silk Board has received two proposals from NGOs, forwarded by Government of Karnataka, one from “The Bridge Foundation (TBF)” and “Karnataka Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development Society (KSARDS)”.

(b) Details are furnished in Annexure-I (enclosed)

(c) The Bridge Foundation (TBF) has submitted one more project viz.”Promotion of Ericulture in Karnataka” for the districts of Davanagere, Shimoga and Hassan during June, 2006 which is under consideration by the Central Silk Board.

(d) CSB will be convening a Meeting of the Project Approval Committee (PAC) shortly, during the month of January, 2007 to scrutinize and consider the Projects submitted by the NGOs and, the above said Project proposal would be considered at that time.

Annexure - I

Details of the NGO Projects that are being implemented with Central Assistance:

Title of the Project	Promotion of Eri	Promotion of	Silk Worm Rearing	Ericulture Technology
Project implementing Agency/NGO	The Bridge Foundation	KSARDS (Karnataka	Sustainable Agriculture &	Rural Development	Society)
Duration of the Project	One time assistance provided	1 year	during 2004.
Project Cost	Rs.33,500/-	Rs.21.27 lakhs
Central Assistance	-	Rs.13.68 lakhs
Beneficiary contribution	-	Rs.7.59 lakhs
Brief Objectives of the Project	To assist the Beneficiaries	# To create awareness	to take up training and Silk	among the rural poor	Worm Rearing	farmers of the target	area on cultivation of	Eri Food Plants, Castor.	# To encourage the rural	poor farmers raising	systematic plantation	of Eri Food Plants,	Castor.
No. of Beneficiaries assisted	One Eri Demonstration Cum	240	Training Centre at Belgaum	and 15 beneficiaries	assisted for plantation,	procurement of leaves,	equipment and for payment	of stipend.
Project implementation	18.11.2004	From the year 2006
Present Status	In total 2,700 Eri dfls were	Under this project,	reared and registered a cocoon	so far 4.2 MT of	yield upto 94 Kgs. Per 100	Eri cocoons were	dfls.	produced. Presently,	126 beneficiaries from	the four districts have	taken up Eri silkworm	rearing during Nov.2006.	The cocoons are yet to	be harvested. A very	good crop is expected.