Coir Industry in India

Coir Industry

• Coir Board was set up under the Coir Industry Act, 1953 by the Government of India for the overall sustainable development of coir industry in the Country.

• The functions of the Board as laid down under the Act include undertaking, assisting and encouraging scientific, technological and economic research, modernization, quality improvement, human resource development, market promotion and welfare of all those who are engaged in this industry.
• The Head Quarters of the Board is located at Coir House, M.G. Road, Kochi, Kerala and is running 48 establishments including 29 marketing outlets across the country.
• For the last more than 60 years Coir Board is steering the industry and the industry today plays a vital role in the economic development of rural areas of the country.
• Coir industry was concentrated in the State of Kerala, which has now been proliferated to other parts of the country also, with the efforts taken by the Board.
• The functions mandated under the Coir Industry Act are carried out by Coir Board under the various Schemes/Programmes, including research and development activities, training programmes, extending financial support for setting up of coir units, domestic as well as export market development, welfare measures to the workers etc.

Significance of Coir Industry

• Coir industry sustains more than 7 lakhs of coir workers, predominantly women, in different States of the country.
• It is estimated that around 80% of the workforce in the industry are women and it plays a vital role in rural women's empowerment of many coastal districts of the country.
• There are 1570 registered coir exporters in the country.
• The export of Coir and Coir products from India during the year 2020-21 registered an all-time high record of Rs.3778.98 crores with an increase of over Rs.1021 crores from the previous year.
• The increase in value works out to 37% in comparison with 2019-20 figures. Coir Board is focused to achieve Rs.7000 crores of coir exports in a couple of years.
• Under PMEGP (Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme), Coir Units have been started in different states of the country
• Coir Products are eco-friendly in nature and gained “Eco Mark” certification by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. Of India.
• Coir products save the environment and help to reverse Global Warming.

1. “Coir pith” used to save water
2. “Coir Geotextiles” used to save soil
3. “Coir Wood” used to save trees and forest

• The Board’s Research Institutes are undertaking new R&D projects in coir with various CSIR units and Universities, in the field of spinning and product diversification.
• The initiatives of the Coir Board have led to a series of product development and diversification activities that have helped to launch a number of value-added products, meeting consumer needs.
• New end-use applications of coir like the use of Coir Geotextiles for preventing soil erosion, conversion of Coir Pith into valuable bio- fertiliser and soil conditioner and Coir Garden articles have gained popularity in India and abroad.
• The growing affinity towards environment-friendly products has helped coir and coir products in domestic as well as foreign markets.
• In Gujarat, the Ministry of MSME has sanctioned the following 2 SFURTI clusters with a project outlay of Rs.472.73 lakhs, which will throw open more employment opportunities,

1. Samavedana Coir Cluster
2. Tarapur Coir Cluster

• In Maharashtra, Ministry of MSME has sanctioned the 2 SFURTI clusters with project out lay of Rs.361.86 lakhs

1. Pendur Coir Cluster
2. Sawantwadi Coir cluster

Conclusion

MSMEs play a vital role in generating employment opportunities and contribute a lot for the socio-economic development of the country. Coir industry is opening up new avenues in the application of its products and is moving to Pan India with the popularisation of the schemes and services available, thereby providing employment opportunities and also the products and its applications.

Need for Saubhagya Scheme: Introduction

• Access to electricity definitely has a positive impact on the quality of life of people in all aspects of daily household chores and human development.

• Firstly , Access to electricity would substitute use of Kerosene for lighting purposes resulting in reduction in indoor pollution thereby saving people from health hazards.
• Further, electricity access would help in establishing efficient and modern health services in all parts of the country.
• Lighting after the sunset also provide a sense of enhanced personal safety especially for women and increase in post sunset social as well as economic activities.
• Availability of electricity will boost education services across all areas and quality lighting post sunset would facilitate children to spend more time on studies and move ahead further in prospective careers.
• Household electrification also increases the likelihood that women would study and earn income.
• The journey started with Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) which envisaged the creation of basic electricity infrastructure in villages. The focus of the scheme was on strengthening & augmentation the existing infrastructure and metering of existing feeders/distribution transformers to improve the quality and reliability of power supply in rural areas.
• Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - Saubhagya envisioned providing energy access to all by last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural as well as urban areas to achieve universal household electrification in the country.
• The electricity connection to households included the release of electricity connections by drawing a service cable from the nearest pole to the household premise, installation of an energy meter, wiring for a single light point with LED bulb, and a mobile charging point.

About Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana –“Saubhagya”

• SAUBHAGYA is one of the largest household electrification drives in the world. SAUBHAGYA was announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 25th September 2017.
• Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana –“Saubhagya” is a scheme to ensure electrification of all willing households in the country in rural as well as urban areas.
• The objective of the ‘Saubhagya’ is to provide energy access to all by last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural as well as urban areas to achieve universal household electrification in the country.
• The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
• However, un-electrified households not covered under the SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs. 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bill.
• The solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp with battery bank for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible areas, comprises of Five LED lights, One DC fan, One DC power plug. It also includes the Repair and Maintenance (R&M) for 5 years.
• For easy and accelerated implementation of the Scheme, modern technology shall be used for household survey by using Mobile App.
• Beneficiaries shall be identified and their application for electricity connection along with applicant photograph and identity proof shall be registered on spot. The Gram Panchayat/Public institutions in the rural areas may be authorised to collect application forms along with complete documentation, distribute bills and collect revenue in consultation with the Panchayat Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
• The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) will remain the nodal agency for the operationalisation of the scheme throughout the country.

The expected outcome of the Scheme is as follows:

• Environmental upgradation by substitution of Kerosene for lighting purposes
• Improvement education services
• Better health services
• Enhanced connectivity through radio, television, mobiles, etc.
• Increased economic activities and jobs
• Improved quality of life especially for women