President Pranab Mukherjee today called for modernizing coir industry as it provides employment to large number of women in coastal areas.
Addressing the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Coir Board here, Mukherjee said, upgradation of infrastructure is essential to boost morale of the work force, enhance productivity and improve quality of products.
"I was glad to learn that along with up-gradation and development of new machinery and diversification of the traditional items produced in this indigenous industry , due attention is being paid to the development of environment-friendly technologies and production processes," he said.
"As this is an industry where 80 percent of the workforce is constituted by women, the importance of its modernization and upgradation of its infrastructure cannot be emphasized enough. These steps are indispensable to bring about greater morale in the work force, higher productivity and better quality of products," he added.
Stating that coir neither poses health risks nor creates pollution, he said due attention is being paid to the development of environment-friendly technologies and production processes.
"An important plus point of the coir industry is that it adds value to a byproduct - the husk of the coconut fruit - which would otherwise have little commercial use. As a versatile substitute for many synthetic materials, coir usefulness in a variety of everyday products - from floor covering to textiles to ornaments and handicrafts that showcase the artistic value of coir has made it very marketable indeed," he said.
"Coir does not pose health risks and nor does it create pollution. I understand that in Europe and USA, our coir is even used for soil bio-engineering applications. Coir wood, a new innovation, is an important outcome of the research carried out by the Coir Board - and this product is fast establishing itself as a substitute for a traditional wood," he added.
Mukherjee further mentioned that adequate allocations have been made in the 12th plan to expand this traditional agro-based cottage industry further.
"I am glad that in the 12th Plan, sufficient allocations have been made to this traditional agro-based cottage industry to enable it to expand further. Its further growth is bound to have a positive multiplier effect as most of the units in this industry are in the rural segment of our economy - in the category of micro industries and nearly 40 percent are small and medium scale production units," he said.
He urged employers to ensure that the workers engaged in this industry are provided enhanced support through the insurance and welfare schemes of Government.
