G.O Ms No. 47 Dated 2.8.2004 of Small Industries Dept, Tamil Nadu

Small Industries - Part II Schemes 2004-05 - Financial assistance to 2000 trained women participants for the purchase of motorised traditional ratts under Mahila Coir Yojana - orders - issued.

From the Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce Lr.No.54646/PDB1/2003 dated 20.11.03.

Tamilnadu is one of the major coir producing States in the Country. Coir industry is concentrated in the districts of Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Madurai and Salem. Coir Industry is a potential activity in Tamilnadu, as it contributes to its rural economy besides providing employment to the rural people, mostly women. Coir activities in the State are, at present, concentrated on fibre production.

2. The Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce has stated that there is scope for increasing utilisation of coconut husks from 37% to 60% which will increase the production of fibre from the existing level of 1.10 lakh M.Ts. to 1.89 lakh M.Ts. and thereby generate additional employment to about 22,000 persons mostly women, especially in the rural areas. At present there are about 9550 traditional ratts under operation. Nearly 30,000 workers, mostly women are engaged in various coir yarn production units in Tamil Nadu. To reduce the drudgery in the manual operation and to increase the productivity per ratt, Coir Board has drawn up an action plan under Mahila Coir Yojana for imparting training to the workers. Coir Board is providing two months training to the local women artisans in coir yarn spinning, using motorised traditional ratts, in association with NGOs / Cooperative Societies, Government agencies, local bodies, etc. Coir Board is providing stipend to each trainee at Rs.500/- per month. After the training, Coir Board has proposed to provide 75% financial assistance as grant to 2000 participants for the purchase of motorised traditional ratts. State Government will share 20% of the cost of the ratts. The beneficiary will bear 5% of the cost as his/her share. The cost per ratt is assumed as Rs.3350/-.

3. The total cost of the scheme is Rs.67.00 lakhs (Rs.3350 x 2000 participants). The pattern of assistance is as detailed below:

(i)	Coir Board’s share @ 75% of the cost (Rs.2512.50 x Rs.2000)	50.25
(ii)	State Government share @ 20% (Rs.670 x 2000)	13.40
(iii)	Beneficiary’s share of 5% (Rs.167.50 x 2000)	3.35
	Total	67.00

This will increase the productivity of the coir yarn spinning in the State, besides increasing wage earning capacity of the rural women folk and removing the drudgery in manual spinning.

4. The Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce has therefore requested the Government to sanction the State Government’s share of Rs.13.40 Lakhs to Coir Board under Part II Schemes 2004-05.

5. The Government after careful examination have decided to accept the proposal of Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce in para 4 above. Sanction is accorded for incurring an expenditure not exceeding Rs.13.40 lakh (Rupees Thirteen Lakhs and Forty Thousand only) for the above training.

6. The expenditure sanctioned in para 5 above shall be debited to the following head of account:

"2851 - 00 Village and Small Industries 106 Coir Industries - Schemes in the Tenth Five Year Plan 11 State Plan JA Assistance to Coir Industrial Cooperatives 19 Machinery and Equipments 01 purchase (D.P.Code No.2851 00 106 JA 1914).

7. The Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce is authorised to draw and disburse the amount sanctioned in para 5 above to the Coir Board, Kochi. The Coir Board will furnish necessary utilisation certificate to the Government.

8. This order issues with the concurrence of Finance Department vide its U.O.No.24004/Ind/2004-1, Dated: 8.4.04.