Question : ESTABLISHMENT OF BODOLAND INSTITUTE OF TEXTILE AND FASHION TECHNOLOGY

(a) whether the Government has contemplated to establish a Bodoland Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology at Kokrajhar and as many as four Textile Institutes within the Bodoland Territory to help/provide textile technology related education to the younger generation of the Bodoland Territory and also to improve the expertise of the Bodo- Tribal Women Folk of the region and thereby to ensure their employment opportunities and to strengthen the job potential;

(b) if so, the steps taken so far in this regard alongwith the proposed allocation of the fund etc.;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has taken any policy decision and initiative to provide necessary Central Fund as required for Promotion, Development and Export of the indigenous Bodo-Tribal handloom products and textiles made of natural fibres especially Cocoons and Muga Silk;

(e) if so, the steps taken so far in this regard; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SHRI SHANKERSINH VAGHELA)

(a) There is no proposal, at present, to establish Bodoland Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology at Kokrajhar and four Textile Institutes within the Bodoland Territory.

(b)&(c) Does not arise.

(d)to(f) In the state of Assam the following schemes are being implemented for Promotion, Development and Export of the indigenous Bodo-Tribal handloom products. An amount of Rs 877.76 lakh was released to Govt. of Assam for implementation of schemes in 2003-04.

(i) Deen Dayal Hathkargha Prothsahan Yojana

(ii) Marketing Promotion Programme

(iii) Handloom Export Scheme

(iv) Mill Gate Price Scheme

(v) Scheme for reimbursement of one time rebate @ 10% given by the Handloom agencies on the sale of handloom cloth

(vi) Scheme for reimbursement of CENVAT on Hank Yarn

(vii) Workshed cum Housing Scheme

(viii) Weavers Welfare scheme

(ix) Bunkar Bima Yojna

(x) Integrated Handloom Training Programme

(xi) Design Development & Training Programme

(xii) Implementation of Handloom (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act 1985

The Central Silk Board has under the Catalytic Development Programme and the follow up support of UNDP assisted project made following efforts for quality improvement of muga and eri silk yarn and fabrics:

(i) M/s Roje Eshansali Cooperative Society Ltd., Kokhrajhar, an NGO is being assisted for promoting product development, diversification and marketing of Vanya silks.

(ii) Under the UNDP assisted FHAP National Institute of Design implemented a project for design development in eri silk in Assam at a total cost of Rs. 15 lakh.

(iii) CSB has established a Demonstration-cum-Technical Service Centre at Sualkuchi which interacts with reelers, spinners and weavers in Bodo areas on continuous basis for yarn and fabric quality improvement.

(iv) Central Silk Board has supplied Motorised reeling-cum-twisting Machines and spinning wheels which have improved the quality of muga and eri silk.

(v) The Product Development Cell of CSTRI, CSB, Bangalore develops varieties of fabrics from muga and eri silks of North Eastern Region(NER) to help the reelers, spinners and weavers of NER including Bodoland area for development of handloom products.