Textile Ministry Launches Silk Festival At New Delhi

Event & Conferences

Textile Ministry Launches Silk Festival At New Delhi

Ministry of Textiles, in association with Central Silk Board recently organized an event, Surging Silk - Accomplishment and way forward, at New Delhi. Union Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj was the chief guest and the event was presided over by Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani. The event was organized to highlight the growth of silk industry in India over the past 4 years. It focuses on distribution of Buniyaad Tasar Silk Reeling Machines to women reelers from tribal areas, as part of total eradication of the age old practice of thigh reeling. In order to eradicate thigh reeling practice in tasar silk sector and to ensure rightful earning to the poor rural and tribal women reelers, Central Silk Technological Research Institute has developed a machine in association with an entrepreneur from Champa, Chhattisgarh. The machine developed is known as Buniyaad Reeling machine. This machine will improve the quality and productivity of tasar silk yarn and reduce the drudgery of women. Women reeler using the traditional method earns approximately Rs 125 per day while a tasar reeler using Buniyaad reeling machine can earn Rs 350 per day. The Buniyaad reeling machine is priced at Rs 8,475 per unit excluding taxes and transportation charges. It is planned to eradicate thigh reeling and replace it with Buniyaad reeling machine by end of March 2019. The machine is available with solar power and pedal attachments. Machine manufactures have already been identified for production and delivery of the machines to the reelers. During the event, best achievers of silk industry across various segments of sericulture were honoured. Awards were also given to the best performing states, and release of melange fabric produced from silk waste took place. A mobile application was launched for quality certification in silkworm seed sector and a compendium on Indian silk industry and state sericulture profile were released. The compendium was a comprehensive compilation on the status and growth of sericulture and silk industry of each state. Plans and programmes launched by Government of India will be implemented across the country and ethnic silk products supported with a directory of important contacts points were ready to providefirst-hand information of the industry. Ministry had made elaborate arrangements for participation from different spectrum of Textile industry in large numbers.