Former Minister Abdul Gani Vakil, who has been nominated by Ministry of Textiles, Government of India as Member of Central Silk Board, today chaired a meeting of Senior Officers of Central Silk Board and Sericulture Department at Pampore. Besides others, the meeting was attended by the Director CSB J&K Mr Sahaf, Additional Director Sericulture Farooq Malik, and Senior Scientists involved in research and development work of this sector in the J&K State. Mr. Sahaf, Director CSB and Mr. Farooq Malik, Additional Director Sericulture Department apprised the newly nominated Hon’ble Member about the activities being undertaken by the Central Silk Board and Sericulture Department to boost the cocoon cultivation and its allied produce viz. a viz. steps being contemplated by the Department to promote and popularize the Sericulture Sector at large scale by involving and attracting the unemployed youth to adopt the same for earning their livelihood.
While presenting appraisal, the participating Officers informed the Hon’ble Member that 90% allocations are being made for development and boosting of this sector by Central Government only meager 10% share is received from the State resources, which is not enough to explore the potential of the sector in full, hence financial constrains are an impediment to achieve the objectives and targets fixed by the Department. Highlighting the other constraints the Officers informed Vakil that human resource management stands ignored because promotions at various levels have not been granted to deserving officers /officials since long, which could have boosted their morale and dedication. The Hon’ble Member was also informed that regularization of Daily Wagers working in factories is also a matter of concern and despite repeated assurances from the concerned quarters the issue is yet to be resolved. It was brought into the notice of the Hon’ble Member that in absence of proper power supply, the production capacity gets adversely affected and a project, estimated at Rs. 38 Lacs, to provide uninterrupted power supply to the factories through Hot Line is pending disposal since long,The Director CSB and Additional Director Sericulture Department informed the Hon’ble Member that for providing fillip to this sector, establishment of new factories and units, land acquisition together with compensation cases, needs speedy disposal and for this purpose availability of requisite funds is an important issue to be addressed on priority.
Vakil impressed upon Officers and Scientist to work in tandem with zeal and zest to develop and promote the Sericulture Sector and make Silk industry a viable source of revenue generation for the State. He said that hitherto the sector hasn’t been explored in full and a lot needs and remains to be done. Mr. Vakil said that hike in the State share for this sector is inevitable and its further ignorance is unaffordable. The Hon’ble Member directed the Officers to take up the matter with the Finance Department and get the share enhanced in next Budget. He assured them all the issues discussed in the meeting will be raised by him in the next meeting of CSB which is scheduled to be held in Banglore on 12th November, 2013.