Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Address The Problems Faced By Coir Industry In Dindigul Parliamentary ... on 11 March, 2016
Sixteenth Loksabha an> title: Need to address the problems faced by Coir Industry in Dindigul Parliamentary Constituency in Tamil Nadu. h SHRI M. UDHAYAKUMAR (DINDIGUL): Hon. Chairperson, I would like to thank our leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr. Puratchi Thalaivi Amma for giving me the opportunity to speak on this occasion on behalf of the Dindigul Parliamentary Constituency. I wish to bring your attention to the problem of the coir industry in Batlagundu Town Panchayat which is nearby Nilakottai Taluk, Dindigul District in the State of Tamil Nadu.
It is situated at the foothills of the Kodaikanal mountain range. Batlagundu is also known as ‘Betel City’. This area is endowed with 25 medium-scale industries and 2000 small-scale industries. The economy of the town is mostly dependent on agricultural products like betel leaf and coir industry. The growing raw material shortage and migration of labour to other areas of activity due to the prevailing low wage structure in the coir sector are the main issues that need to be tackled urgently to sustain the momentum of growth in coir exports.
I would request the Central Government that a mini coil spinning machine, which is capable of enhancing production of quality yarn required for the coir tufting industry, may be supplied free of cost to coir workers in the BPL category.
I would request the Central Government to set up a raw material bank for the coir industry.
Coir industry is labour intensive and provides direct employment to lakhs of people. I urge the Central Government to appoint a team of experts for studying the problems being faced by the coir labourers. I would suggest that the Central Coir Board may encourage the entrepreneurs to start manufacturing value-added coir products like mats, rugs, carpets, etc., which will help them to earn more and enable them to pay attractive wages to their workers.
It is also suggested that the Government may encourage the nationalised banks and other financial institutions to offer loan facilities at subsidised rates of interest, especially to small coir units to meet out their working capital requirements during peak seasons.
The industry has every scope to make an indelible mark in the industrial map of Tamil Nadu and could finally contribute to the economic development of the country.
Thank you.