The Hindu Business Line : Coir Board office in Kolkata

The Coir Board, in its efforts to develop the industry in the North-Eastern States, has opened its first Sub-Regional Office at Hemanta Basu Bhavan in Kolkata.

The office, which was formally opened by Mr A.C. Jose, Chairman of the Board, will coordinate the developmental activities of the Board in association with the West Bengal Government. Mr Jose met Mr Manav Mukherjee, the State Minister for Industries and Commerce, and discussed the various developmental programmes of the Coir Board, proposed to be implemented in West Bengal.

The Coir Board Chairman also requested the Minister to set up a Coir Wing in the Directorate of Industries and also in the District Industries Centres so that the developmental activities of the Board could be implemented more effectively.

At present, the utilisation of the coconut husk for the coir industry in West Bengal is only 22 per cent and it is possible to enhance this by 10 per cent within a period of two years. This will ensure employment generation in the rural sector, Mr Jose said.

Reacting to the proposal, the Minister assured that the State Government would extend all possible assistance for the development of the coir industry in the State. The Minister also said that a separate coir wing would be opened in the Directorate of Industries for easy implementation of Coir Board's programme.

The Coir Board also organised an Entrepreneur Development and Awareness Programme on coir industry at Dhanchuberaia. The programme was attended by the general managers of coconut producing districts and more than 100 people consisting of prospective entrepreneurs, artisans and NGOs.

Inaugurating the programme, Mr Jose called upon the State Government to take the initiative to enhance utilisation of coconut husk in various coconut procuring districts by encouraging setting up of more fibre extraction units.

He pointed out that the Coir Board is ready to extend financial assistance to the new units as well as old ones subject to certain limits. He urged the participants to avail themselves of the maximum assistance under various schemes of the Coir Board so that development of the industry and generation of employment can be ensured.