The Hindu : Karnataka News : Siddaramaiah promises more funds for silk industry

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Saturday, Jan 01, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Siddaramaiah promises more funds for silk industry

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, DEC. 31. The Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramiah, on Thursday assured the Karnataka Silk Marketing Board that the Government will allocate funds in the next budget for developing silk industry.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, who holds the Finance portfolio, was inaugurating the silver jubilee of the board here.

He said the Government knew the problems of silk farmers, weavers, reelers, and twisters. That was the reason the Janata Dal (Secular) President and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda had selected a leader from among from farmers, C. Channigappa, as the Sericulture Minister.

Mr. Channigappa, who presented awards to sericulturists, said he had taken steps to protect the interest of 2.5 lakh families of farmers who depended on sericulture. He recently suspended six officials, including a deputy director, at Sidlaghatta in Kolar district for dereliction of duty. He said the steps taken in the last fortnight pushed up the price of cocoon by Rs. 14 a kg. The minister said he has initiated several programmes such as strengthening the board and the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation. He released a souvenir brought out on the occasion.

D. Tulasiram, board chairman who has completed two years in office, presided over the function.

He said the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, in a message assured the board that the State Government will look into its requirements on priority. Mr. Tulasiram urged the Government to prevail upon the Centre to declare the board as a nodal agency for implementing its programmes and schemes aimed at improving the quality and productivity of silk.

He urged Mr. Channigappa to consider the proposal to convert the board into a raw material bank and a monitoring agency for silk imports. He said the board should be reconstituted on the lines of the Agricultural Marketing Board and silk exchange should be brought under its purview. The market cess on silk sold by the board should be waived as it cannot compete with the private sector. Unlike other government boards and corporations, the board is not getting any grant from the Government and is facing financial problem.

Aravind Jannu, Sericulture Commissioner, and Govinda Bhat, Managing Director, were present.

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