REVAMPED SCHEME FOR THE WOOL SECTOR TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING FIBRE
AND PROCESSING : SHAHNAWAZ HUSSAIN
The Ministry of
Textiles has launched an Integrated Wool Improvement Programme
from this financial year to tackle the complex problems of domestic
production, exports, improvement of quality and other issues connected
with the wool sector. This information was given by the Textiles
Minister Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussein at the Parliamentary Consultative
Committee meeting of his ministry here today. The Minister said,
the scheme basically focuses on the twin objectives of improvement
of wool fibre and of quality processing of wool. He said that
the norms of the schemes in operation during the Ninth Plan have
been made flexible and development of speciality fibres such as
pashmina and angora wool are also provided for.
The scheme also focuses
on tackling the problem of human resources development and developing
a productivity and quality consciousness in the woolen industry
through short term and long term solutions. This component also
provides for assistance to small industry to increase value addition
by providing common facility centres for Carpet finishing and
Shawl finishing. Shri Shahnawaz Hussain expressed the hope that
with the active cooperation of the state governments we shall
be able to show substantial improvements in production and quality
of wool product in the country. He however said that so far the
experience is not very encouraging in regard to the cooperation
of the state governments.
Participating in
the discussion members said that processing and finishing units
should be set up in states where substantial quantity of wool
is produces. They also said that there is no welfare scheme in
operation for the producers of raw wool like those for the weavers
in the handloom and power loom sector. Members of Parliament who
attended the meeting are Smt. Sandhya Bauri, Shri G. Rama Mohan,
Shri Mohan Rawale and Shri A.P. Abdullakutty from the Lok Sabha
and Shri R. Ramachandraiah from the Rajya Sabha.
