(a) whether Muga silk of Assam is loosing its popularity because of its coarseness and stiffness;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to improve its quality and to make it more popular and acceptable;
(c) the total production of such silk in Assam and other North Eastern States during last three years, year-wise; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to promote the production and export of Muga silk?
MINISTER OF TEXTILES ( SHRI SHANKERSINH VAGHELA )
(a) No, Sir.
(b) Steps being taken by Central Silk Board for improving the quality of muga silk and making it more popular and acceptable include the following:
- Under the Plan Schemes of sericulture sector financial and technical support is being provided to the beneficiaries for development and maintenance of host plants, production and supply of quality seed, rearing of healthy and disease resistant silkworms; - Reeling cum twisting devices developed by Central Silk Board for reeling muga cocoons for production of high quality muga yarn are being supplied to reelers in Assam and other muga producing States at 50% subsidy; - To encourage weavers and dyers to adopt modern, efficient and eco-friendly practices for processing and dyeing of silk yarn, Government sponsored agencies/ registered societies/ cooperatives/NGOs/ exporters/master weavers/ entrepreneurs are eligible for financial assistance under the Catalytic Development Programme of CSB for installation of Common Facility Centres (CFCs).
(Qty in MT)
State 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04
Assam 93 96 99 Arunachal Pradesh 0.5 0.5 0.2 Mizoram Negligible Negligible - Meghalaya 5 5 6 Nagaland Negligible Negligible - Manipur 0.5 Negligible Negligible
Negligible: less than 50 kgs;
(d) Steps taken by the Central Silk Board to promote the production and export of muga silk include the following:
- Under the Plan Schemes of sericulture sector financial and technical assistance is provided to beneficiaries as mentioned in reply to part (b) above; - Various projects are being implemented with financial assistance under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) of Ministry of Rural Development for development of muga silk in Assam and other North Eastern States; - Training and extension support is provided to the State Governments; - CSB has established the following infrastructural units in the North-Eastern States for promotion of muga silk industry:
1) Central Muga Eri Research & Training Institute, Ladoigarh, Assam (1 No.) 2) Regional Muga Research Station, Boko, Assam (1 No.) 3) Research Extension Centre, North Lakhimpur, Assam (1 No.) 4) Research Extension Centre, Tura, Meghalaya (1 No.) 5) Muga Silkworm Seed Organisation, Guwahati. (1 No.) 6) Muga Silkworm Seed Production Centre, Kaliabari, Assam (1 No.) 7) P4/P3 Muga Basic Seed Station (8 Nos., 5 In Meghalaya, 2 In Assam And 1 In Arunachal Pradesh) 8) Muga Raw Material Bank, Sibsagar, Assam. (1 No.) 9) Regional Development Office, Guwahati (1 No.) (for coordination).