The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Coir Board today (November 25, 2013) at a function at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that he was glad to learn that along with up-gradation and development of new machinery and diversification of the traditional items produced in the coir industry, due attention is being paid to the development of environment-friendly technologies and production processes.
As this is an industry where 80% of the workforce is constituted by women, the importance of its modernization and upgradation of its infrastructure cannot be emphasized enough, he said. These steps are indispensable to bring about greater morale in the work force, higher productivity and better quality of products.
The President stated that he wished to see the Coir industry become self-reliant in terms of raw material procurement. He urged employers to ensure that the workers engaged in this industry are provided enhanced support through the insurance and welfare schemes of Government.
Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Union Minister of Finance, Shri P. Chidambaram, Minister of State for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Shri K.H. Muniyappa, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Prof. P.J. Kurien and Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. Shashi Tharoor.