MR.  CHAIRMAN :  Please conclude now.

SHRI JAGAT VIR SINGH DRONA :  I am just concluding.  There is ample time.




ºÉ¦ÉÉ{ÉÊiÉ VÉÒ, +É{É ¦ÉÒ 10´ÉÒÆ ±ÉÉäEòºÉ¦ÉÉ Eòä ¨É訤ɮú lÉä +Éè®ú =ºÉ ºÉ¨ÉªÉ Eòä ´ÉºjÉ ¨ÉÆjÉÒ ¸ÉÒ VÉÒ.
´ÉäÆEò]õ º´ÉɨÉÒ ]õxÉÇ +®úÉ>ðÆb÷ {ÉÉʱɺÉÒ Eòä +xiÉMÉÇiÉ 2005.72 Eò®úÉäc÷ ¯û{ɪÉä EòÒ ´ªÉ´ÉºlÉÉ
Eò®úEòä ±ÉɪÉä*





+{ÉxÉÒ Ê¨É±ÉÉäÆ Eòä {ÉÉºÉ Eòä´É±É ¨ÉÖ¨¤É<Ç ¨ÉäÆ 2349 Eò®úÉäc÷ ¯û{ɪÉä Ê¨É±É ºÉEòiÉä ½þèÆ* ±ÉäÊEòxÉ ´É½þÉÆ {É®ú
EòÉä<Ç MÉÉ®úÆ]õÒ xɽþÒÆ nùä ºÉEòiÉÉ* VÉèºÉä +Énù®úhÉÒªÉ ºÉ®ú{ÉÉäiÉnùÉ®ú VÉÒ xÉä Eò½þÉ lÉÉ ÊEò ¨É½þÉ®úɹ]Å ºÉ®úEòÉ®ú
<ºÉEòÒ +xÉÖ¨ÉÊiÉ EªÉÉäÆ xɽþÒÆ nùä ®ú½þÒ ½þè* ªÉ½þ ºÉ®úEòÉ®ú ¨É½þÉ®úɹ]Å ºÉ®úEòÉ®ú EòÉä ÊE±É+®ú-Eò]õ
+ɶ´ÉɺÉxÉ nùä ÊEò VÉÉä ¯û{ɪÉÉ +É{É nùä ®ú½þä ½þèÆ =ºÉºÉä <xÉ Ê¨É±ÉÉäÆ Eòä ¸ÉʨÉEòÉäÆ Eòä ʽþiÉÉäÆ EòÒ
®úIÉÉ ½þÉäMÉÒ* =xÉEòÉä ´ÉäiÉxÉ ¦ÉÒ ºÉ¨ÉªÉ ºÉä ʨɱÉiÉÉ ®ú½þäMÉÉ* =xÉEòä ÊxÉ®úÆiÉ®ú SɱÉxÉä ´ÉɱÉÒ ÊºlÉÊiÉ
½þÉäMÉÒ* EòɪÉǶÉÒ±É {ÉÚÆVÉÒ Eòä xÉÉiÉä =xÉEòÉä ʨɱÉÉäÆ EòÉä SɱÉÉxÉä Eòä ʱÉB, EòSSÉÉ ¨ÉÉ±É JÉ®úÒnùxÉä Eòä
ʱÉB, +ÉvÉÖÊxÉEòÒEò®úhÉ Eòä ʱÉB ]õÉä]õ±É ´ªÉ´ÉºlÉÉ EòÒ VÉɪÉäMÉÒ* +ÉÊJÉ®ú ºÉ®úEòÉ®ú ʽþSÉEò EªÉÉäÆ ®ú½þÒ ½þè*
¸ÉÒ VÉɱ±É{{ÉÉ VÉÒ ªÉ½þÉÆ {É®ú ¤Éè`öä ½þÖB ½þèÆ* 

He will bear me out. 


+¦ÉÒ ºÉÉiÉ-+É`ö ÊnùxÉ
{ɽþ±Éä ½þÒ +É{ÉxÉä Eò½þÉ ÊEò <ºÉ ªÉÉäVÉxÉÉ EòÉä ´É½þ ±ÉÉMÉÚ Eò®úxÉä xɽþÒÆ VÉÉ ®ú½þä ½þèÆ, ±ÉÉMÉÚ xɽþÒÆ Eò®ú
ºÉEòiÉä ½þèÆ* ¨Éä®úä EòÉxÉ{ÉÖ®ú ¨ÉäÆ <iÉxÉÒ Ê´É¶ÉɱÉ-ʴɶÉÉ±É Ê¨É±ÉäÆ ½þèÆ* +É{É +MÉ®ú ºlÉÉxÉÒªÉ iÉÉè®ú {É®ú ½þÒ
±Éä ±ÉäÆ, +MÉ®ú |ÉÉxiÉÒªÉ ºÉ®úEòÉ®úÉäÆ Eòä ºÉÉlÉ ¤ÉÉiÉ Eò®úäÆ, xÉMÉ®ú ÊxÉMÉ¨É Eòä ºÉÉlÉ ¤ÉÉiÉ Eò®úäÆ*
®úɹ]Å Eòä ʽþiÉ ¨ÉäÆ +MÉ®ú +É{É ÊxÉʶSÉiÉ °ü{É ºÉä =xÉEòÉä +ɶ´ÉɺÉxÉ nùäiÉä ½þèÆ ÊEò {ÉèºÉä EòÉ
ºÉnùÖ{ɪÉÉäMÉ ½þÉäMÉÉ, nùÖ¯û{ɪÉÉäMÉ xɽþÒÆ ½þÉäMÉÉ, iÉÉä ÊxÉʶSÉiÉ °ü{É ºÉä ´Éä +É{ÉEòä ºÉÉlÉ ºÉ½þªÉÉäMÉ Eò®úäÆMÉä*
BEò ºÉɨÉÉxªÉ ºÉä +ÊvÉEòÉ®úÒ EòÉä {ÉÉÆSÉ BEòc÷ Eòä ¤ÉÆMɱÉä ¨ÉäÆ ®ú½þxÉä EòÒ EªÉÉ +ɴɶªÉEòiÉÉ ½þè*
½þ¨ÉÉ®úä EòÉxÉ{ÉÖ®ú ¨ÉäÆ iÉÉä ¤É½þÖiÉ ½þÒ Ê´ÉÊSÉjÉ ÊºlÉÊiÉ ½þè* ´É½þÉÆ BEò +ÊvÉEòÉ®úÒ {ÉÉÆSÉ-{ÉÉÆSÉ BEòc÷
¨ÉäÆ ®ú½þiÉÉ ½þè, ´É½þÉÆ +ÆOÉäVÉÉäÆ Eòä VɨÉÉxÉä Eòä ¤ÉxÉä ½þÖB ¤Éc÷ä-¤Éc÷ä ¤ÉÆMɱÉä ½þèÆ* VÉ¤É ¨ÉÖ¨¤É<Ç
¨ÉäÆ {ÉʶSÉ¨É ®úä±É´Éä EòÉ <ÆVÉÒÊxɪɮú-<xÉ-SÉÒ¡ò +MÉ®ú ¨É±]õÒº]õÉä®úÒb÷ ʤÉʱb÷ÆMÉ Eòä BEò ¡±Éè]õ ¨ÉäÆ
®ú½þ ºÉEòiÉÉ ½þè*


SHRI RAM NAIK (MUMBAI NORTH):



¸ÉÒ ®úÉ¨É xÉÉ<ÇEò :  ºÉɽþ¤É ½þ¨É iÉÉä nùÉä Eò¨É®úä Eòä ¡±Éè]õ ¨ÉäÆ ®ú½þiÉä ½þèÆ*


SHRI JAGAT VIR SINGH DRONA (KANPUR):



¸ÉÒ VÉMÉiÉ ´ÉÒ®ú ʺÉƽþ pùÉähÉ :  +É{É b÷ägø Eò¨É®úä ¨ÉäÆ ®ú½þiÉä ½þèÆ, =x½þäÆ nùÉä ¨ÉiÉ EòʽþªÉä* ¨ÉèÆ
+É{ÉEòä ªÉ½þÉÆ +ɪÉÉ ½þÚÆ* ¨Éä®úÉ ÊxÉ´ÉnùäxÉ ªÉ½þ ½þè ÊEò +É{É <ºÉ {É®ú MÉƦÉÒ®úiÉÉ ºÉä Ê´ÉSÉÉ®ú Eò®úäÆ +Éè®ú VÉÉä
¤Éc÷Ò-¤Éc÷Ò VɨÉÒxÉÉäÆ ¨ÉäÆ ¤ÉÆMɱÉä ¤ÉxÉä ½þÖB ½þèÆ <xÉEòÉä ¨É±]õÒº]õÉä®úÒb÷ ʤÉʱb÷ÆMÉäÆ ¤ÉxÉÉEò®ú
ºÉ¨ÉºªÉÉ EòÉ ºÉ¨ÉÉvÉÉxÉ Eò®úäÆ* EòÉxÉ{ÉÖ®ú ¨ÉäÆ iÉÉä +Éè®ú ¦ÉÒ MÉƦÉÒ®ú ¨ÉºÉ±ÉÉ ½þè, +É{ÉEòÒ VɨÉÒxÉ +Éè®ú ¤ÉÆMɱÉÉäÆ
{É®ú ºÉ®úEòÉ®ú EòÉ Eò¤VÉÉ ½þÉä MɪÉÉ ½þè* EòÉxÉ{ÉÖ®ú EòÉ +É<Ç.VÉÒ., b÷Ò.+É<Ç.VÉÒ., BºÉ.BºÉ.{ÉÒ., BºÉ.{ÉÒ.
+Éè®ú +xÉäEò |ɶÉɺÉÊxÉEò +ÊvÉEòÉ®úÒ +É{ÉEòä ¤ÉÆMɱÉÉäÆ {É®ú Eò¤VÉÉ Eò®úEòä +{ÉxÉÉ +ÉÊ¡òºÉ SɱÉÉ ®ú½þä ½þèÆ,
ÊxÉ´ÉÉºÉ Eò®ú ®ú½þä ½þèÆ* ªÉ½þ ºÉ¤É SÉÒVÉäÆ +É{ÉEòä +ÊvÉEòÉ®ú IÉäjÉ ºÉä VÉÉ ®ú½þÒ ½þèÆ +Éè®ú <xÉEòÉ
®úJÉ-®úJÉÉ´É ¦ÉÒ `öÒEò ºÉä xɽþÒÆ ½þÉä ®ú½þÉ ½þè*





	+ÆiÉ ¨ÉäÆ ¨Éä®úä nùÉä-iÉÒxÉ ´ÉÉEªÉ ªÉ½þ ½þèÆ ÊEò ºÉ®úEòÉ®ú ´ÉiÉǨÉÉxÉ {ÉÊ®úʺlÉÊiɪÉÉäÆ ¨ÉäÆ
<iÉxÉä ¤Éc÷ä ºÉèE¶ÉxÉ EòÉä ÊVɺÉEòä ºÉÉlÉ ±ÉMɦÉMÉ +ɤÉÉnùÒ Eòä BEò |ÉÊiɶÉiÉ ±ÉÉäMÉ ¸ÉʨÉEò +Éè®ú =ºÉEòä
{ÉÊ®ú´ÉÉ®ú Eòä °ü{É ¨ÉäÆ VÉÖc÷ä ½þÖB ½þèÆ* <xÉ Ê¨É±ÉÉäÆ Eòä uÉ®úÉ ®úɹ]Å Eòä ÊxɪÉÉÇiÉ ¨ÉäÆ VÉÉä
ªÉÉäMÉnùÉxÉ ½þÉäiÉÉ ½þè ´É½þ ±ÉMɦÉMÉ 33 {É®úºÉäÆ]õ ½þè* VÉÉä ½þ¨ÉÉ®úä VÉÒ.b÷Ò.{ÉÒ.  EòÉ 20 |ÉÊiɶÉiÉ
EòÆ]ÅÒ¤ªÉÚ]õ Eò®úiÉä ½þèÆ +Éè®ú ºÉ¤ÉºÉä ¤Éc÷Ò ¤ÉÉiÉ ªÉ½þ ½þè ÊEò ªÉä ´É½þÒ ¸ÉʨÉEò ½þèÆ VÉÉä ®úɹ]Å Eòä
ÊxɨÉÉÇhÉ ¨ÉäÆ ±ÉMÉä ½þÖB ½þèÆ, ÊVÉx½þÉäÆxÉä +{ÉxÉÉ VÉÒ´ÉxÉ <xÉ Ê¨É±ÉÉäÆ ¨ÉäÆ EòÉ¨É Eò®úiÉä-Eò®úiÉä
®úɹ]Å EòÉ =i{ÉÉnùxÉ ¤ÉgøÉxÉä ¨ÉäÆ ±ÉMÉɪÉÉ ½þè, <xÉEòä ʽþiÉÉäÆ EòÒ ®úIÉÉ ½þÉäxÉÒ SÉÉʽþB +Éè®ú BäºÉÒ
ªÉÉäVÉxÉÉ ±ÉäEò®ú ºÉ®úEòÉ®ú EòÉä +ÉxÉÉ SÉÉʽþB ÊVɺÉEòä uÉ®úÉ ½þ¨É ºÉ¤É <xÉ Ê¨É±ÉÉäÆ EòÉ +ÉvÉÖÊxÉEòÒEò®úhÉ Eò®úxÉä
Eòä {ɶSÉÉiÉ ÊxɪÉʨÉiÉ °ü{É ºÉä ʤÉxÉÉ {ÉèºÉä Eòä +¦ÉÉ´É ¨ÉäÆ ÊxÉ®úÆiÉ®ú SɱÉÉ ºÉEòäÆ* <x½þÒÆ ¶É¤nùÉäÆ
Eòä ºÉÉlÉ ¨ÉäÆ ºÉ¨ÉÉ{iÉ Eò®úiÉÉ ½þÚÆ*


MR.  CHAIRMAN :  Mr.  Minister, please reply.

SHRI SURESH PRABHU (RAJAPUR): Sir, I have given  my  name.  I  am  waiting  to
speak. My name is there.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Now, the hon. Minister has to reply.



THE MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SHRI R.L.  JALAPPA):  Sir, I am really gratified and
I am grateful to you and to the hon.    Members  for  having  expressed  their
concern  about  the  textile  industry  in  general  and  about the workmen in
particular.  While  speaking,  Shri  Sanat  Mehta  was  mentioning  about  the
Modernisation Fund.    I  would  like  to say that in the Seventh Plan, Rs.750
crore was set apart for modernisation.

SHRI SURESH PRABHU :  May I point out, Sir, that there is  no  quorum  in  the
House?

SHRI R.L.  JALAPPA:  He is creating mischief.

SHRI SURESH PRABHU  :    I  have made a request for making a speech.  I cannot
speak whereas many other Members could speak.  If I cannot speak, let us  have
the rules.  Give a ruling, please.

SHRI R.L.  JALAPPA:  I request you to allow me to speak.

MR.  CHAIRMAN:  The bell is being rung -

MR.  CHAIRMAN :   Now,  there  is  a  quorum.    The  hon.  Minister Shri R.L.
Jalappa may continue.

SHRI R.L.  JALAPPA:    Mr.    Chairman,  Sir,  I  am really gratified and I am
thankful to the hon.  Members for their concern about the textile industry, in
general and their concern about the employees, in particular.


	A reference was made by Shri Sanat Mehta about the Modernisation Fund.
In the Seventh Plan, a fund of Rs. 750 crore was created and  I  am  given  to
understand  that  about  Rs.  1,200  crore  was  spent  in the Seventh Plan on
Modernisation. But in the Eighth Plan, this Fund was not provided.

	I  went  around  some  of  the  important  States  where these textile
industries are situated.  When  I  interacted  with  the  management  and  the
labourers  there,  I  came  to  know  that  in  order to compete in the global
competition after three or four years -- probably that competition starts from
this year -- we should equip ourselves with the  latest  technology.    So,  I
requested  the  Planning  Commission  to provide this Technology Modernisation
Fund and I should be thankful  to  the  hon.    Finance  Minister  for  having
accepted my suggestion.   During the Budget Speech, the hon.  Finance Minister
also mentioned that a Technology Modernisation Fund was going to be created.

AN HON. MEMBER: And, he did not provide that Fund.

SHRI R.L. JALAPPA: Now, as you have all approved the Budget, he  will  provide
this Fund.

	Sir, I know the problems that are going to be faced by these employees
whenever  a mill becomes sick. This sickness is due to so many reasons. I need
not dwell upon the reasons of the sickness. But 301 units  stand  referred  to
the  BIFR before 31.03.1997. The number of closed mills is 207 out of which 38
mills are closed under liquidation.

	The other  mills  are  temporarily  closed  on  account  of  financial
difficulties  or  lack of trade and other things. The main reason for sickness
in the textile mills could be attributed to  structural  transformation  as  a
result  of which composite units in the organised sectors are losing ground to
powerloom.

	The hon.  Member was mentioning about Manchester - that Ahmedabad  was
the Manchester of India.  Even now it is the Manchester of India because there
is no  textiles  industry  in Manchester!  I am sorry, it is only in a lighter
vein that I have said it.  This sickness has not developed  during  these  ten
months or one year.   This is hereditary.  I have inherited this legacy.  I am
not responsible for the sickness.  The Government is also trying to  see  that
by  providing technology fund for modernisation those mills at least which are
limping now could be revived and employment  provided  to  the  people.    The
Government is not referring them to BIFR.  Whenever a company loses beyond its
share capital,  automatically it is referred to the BIFR.  So, we have nothing
to do with the BIFR.  We are not referring them to the BIFR.  As  far  as  NTC
mills are  concerned,  yes,  we have referred them to the BIFR.  But as far as
private mills are concerned, we are not referring them to the BIFR.  The  BIFR
is taking its own decision and we cannot influence those decisions also.

	About  TWRF, that is, Textile Workers' Rehabilitation Fund, a total of
Rs.84.61 crore has been paid to 42461 workers from 28 mills  during  the  last
year.   This  year we have provided Rs.10.21 crore in the Budget for paying to
the Textile Workers' Rehabilitation Fund.  The fact that around three  hundred
textile units  are before the BIFR is no doubt a matter of concern for us.  We
are alive to this fact.   We  are  also  taking  measures  to  strengthen  the
textiles industry.   However,  I would like to urge upon the hon.  Members not
to lose sight of the textiles sector in its entire perspective.

	To describe the entire textiles industry as sick is not  correct.  The
spinning sector in particular has shown vibrancy and growth over the years. It
is not a sunset industry as was mentioned by hon. Member Shri Sanat Mehta.

	The  annual  investment  in  textiles machinery increased from Rs.2100
crore in 1993-94 to Rs.3400 crore in 1995-96. To illustrate it, in 1980  there
were  400  spinning  mills  and  291  composite  mills. In 1990 there were 770
spinning mills and 281 composite mills. In 1996 there are 1310 spinning  mills
and  275  composite  mills.  I  do agree that the number of composite mills is
coming down gradually.


	Why is it so?  It is because we have got about 1.7 million  powerlooms
in the unorganised sector which are competing with the organised sector.  They
have got some  facilities.   Their investment is less.  Sometimes, they do not
pay taxes and they have a different system of billing for electricity.    They
pay labour  charges  at  a rate lesser than that of the organised sector.  So,
these mills in the organised sector are not in a  position  to  withstand  the
competition from powerlooms.

	The hon.   Member  was  mentioning  about  yarn.  I am really happy to
bring to the notice of this hon.  House that the  production  of  yarn  during
1991-92  which was 18.6 lakh tonnes increased to 23.79 lakh tonnes in 1995-96.
I would like to mention here  that  for  the  last  two  years  we  have  been
exporting our  yarn  to  Japan.   Japan is one of the very good markets for us
now.  During the last year 80 million kg.  were allowed to be exported.   When
they  came to me for enhancing the quota, I thought that it was fit to enhance
the quota because instead of exporting cotton, we could  export  the  yarn  so
that  value  added  material  could  be  exported and we can earn more foreign
exchange.  I enhanced it by another 30 million kg.  last year.  This  year,  I
have given  them  120  million  kg.  In addition to that, when they came to me
saying that they do require some more quota for six months, I have given  them
20 million kg.  more.  Our performance in this sector is that we have exported
58 per cent more than what we exported during the last year, 1994-95.  This is
an  achievement  and  we  should  thank the millers for having achieved such a
spectacular progress.

	The total production of  cloth  has  shown  an  increase  from  22,588
million sq.  metres  in  1991-92 to 28,631 million sq.  metres in 1995-96.  Of
course, for the reasons I mentioned earlier, the production in  the  mills  in
the organised  sector  has come down.  In 1991-92, the mill sector produced 11
per cent of the cloth produced in the country.  Today, it amounts to  six  per
cent.  It has come down.


	Shri Sanat Mehta was mentioning that the industry was  neither  better
nor  has  gone  bad.  I would say, `No'. The industry is thriving well. I have
already informed the House about the  investment  made  during  the  last  two
years. In the last five years, 600 mills have been established. Our production
is  twenty  per  cent.  We  have maintained that twenty percent. The export of
textiles has gone up to Rs.35,000 crore. We are not lagging behind.

	Of  course,  I  have  already  explained  myself  to  you  about   the
competition  that  is  being  faced by this organised sector. Textile industry
means not only these mills, but it  also  means  handlooms,  powerlooms,  even
khadi  weaving  which  includes  all  these  things.  If  we  take the overall
performance, I am glad to say that we are not lagging behind in spite  of  130
mills being sick.

	I  would  like  to  touch  upon  the proposal for area regeneration of
closed textile mills of Ahmedabad about which a mention was made by Shri Sanat
Mehta and Shri Harin Pathak.  That is dealt with by the Industries Department.
When it came  to  us,  our  Ministry  has  recommended  that  this  should  be
considered.  NRF amount is not meant for private mills or cooperative mills or
State mills.  It is only for the NTC mills i.e, central PSUs.

	A  point  was  raised about the wages also -- that wages are not being
paid.  It  is  true  that  there  was  some   problem   in   the   months   of
November-December  last  year. When this was brought to the notice of the hon.
Finance Minister, he immediately considered and released wages for two months.
Of course, wages for January were also paid. The wages for February  are  also
being released, which is Rs.27 crore. We are going to pay them the rest of the
money within a month or two.

SHRI  NIRMAL  KANTI  CHATTERJEE  (DUMDUM): There will be backlog of two months
then.


SHRI R L JALAPPA: No. We are paying them that also. How can you pay wages  for
the  next  month,  without  clearing the previous months' wages? We will first
clear the previous months' wages. It  may  take  some  time;  it  may  not  be
possible  to  give  them on time. It may take one or two months. I request the
employees to cooperate with me.

SHRI NIRMAL  KANTI  CHATTERJEE  :  The problem is that if you pay a particular
month's wages after two months, by that time, another two months' wages  would
become due.  So, every month, you have to pay at least the wages for more than
one month so that the backlog is cleared.  That has to be done.

SHRI R L JALAPPA: We are trying our best.

SHRI NIRMAL  KANTI  CHATTERJEE  :  You seek the cooperation of the person whom
you thanked!

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE (SHRI P.  CHIDAMBARAM):  Both of them are right and  I
am only wrong!

SHRI R L JALAPPA: Shri Thorat was expressing concern about the high  price  of
cotton  which is varying year to year. This depends on demand and supply. When
the supply is more and the demand is less, the price would come  down.  Nobody
wants  to purchase and stock it because the interest charges are more. One has
to pay interest at the rate of 18 per cent. There would  be  another  two  per
cent  by  way  of  other  charges. So, it would become 20 per cent. So, nobody
wants to hoard it for months together.

	I caught hold of mill owners and asked them: I have given you so  much
of  yarn  to be exported, what is the matter? Why are you not purchasing? They
told me that they have to pay  18  per  cent  interest  and  that  they  would
purchase as and when they want. Now, the prices have firmed up and it is a few
rupees  more than what it was existing during the corresponding period of last
year.

	He had spoken about the hank-yarn also. A survey  has  been  conducted
about  the  handloom  availability in the country; we have received the survey
reports of all but two or three States. We will find out as  to  how  many  of
them  are silk woven and how many of them are using cotton. We will assess the
requirement; and if necessary, we may try to change this hank-yarn  obligation
or  reservation.  Here,  I  want  to  bring to your notice that the quality of
cotton that is being produced in our country is going down  day  by  day.  The
production  also  is  going  down  day by day. The quality is not good and the
production per hectare is also going down.

When   we   compare   our  figures  with  those  of  the  advanced  countries,
approximately, we find that one-third is our production.  So, I discussed with
my officers and I went to the hon.  Vice-Chairman of the Planning  Commission.
I requested him to permit us to have Cotton Technology Mission on the lines of
the Oil  Technology Mission.  I should be grateful to him that he has conceded
and the Ministry of Agriculture is at it.  I hope it will  come  up  within  a
month or two.    I  have  taken  these  decisions  suo  motu.    I went to the
Deputy-Chairman of the Planning Commission, Prof.  Madhu Dandavate and brought
to his notice about the necessity of the  Technology  Modernisation  Fund  and
Cotton Technology  Mission.    I have also requested him for these to which he
has conceded.

	Shri Narayana Swamy, in my absence, had spoken about silk.  We are now
importing some quantity of silk through advanced licensing system so that they
could export  the  manufactured  goods.   But as far as our indigenous silk is
concerned, it is not being exported in a big quantity because it suffers  from
some deficiencies.   For internal purposes, it is very good silk.  That lustre
is not there in any other silk .  It is not  there  in  imported  silk.    But
imported silk  is  very  easy  for  weaving.    They use warp and weft and the
breakages will be more here.  So, when I went to the  laboratories  and  other
places, I  thought  that  we  could improve the reeling system.  I went with a
proposal to the Planning Commission.  They have agreed to give us the  weaving
machines,  subsidising  to  the  extent  of 30 per cent - 15 per cent from the
Government of India and 15 per cent from  the  State  Governments  -  and  the
remaining money  has  to be repaid in ten instalments without any interest.  I
hope, necessary orders will be issued within a short time.  This is  going  to
improve our  silk  production.   We also want to see that quality silk is also
produced.  I have spoken about this to the officials of the Central Silk Board
and I am inviting the research workers in the field.

thought I could plough back something to the growers who are  responsible  for
this  profit.  So,  I  have already given instructions to them that in all the
APMCs, wherever we are getting huge quantity of  silk,  large  sheds  must  be
provided to them for the convenience of the farmers so that this contamination
can  be  prevented to a larger extent. I have also given instructions that the
Universities of Agricultural Science shall be provided  with  more  money  for
research  and  development work. I am going to invite the Vice-Chancellors and
technicians of Universities of Agricultural Science. I will have a  discussion
and provide as much money as they want. In addition to about 38 villages taken
is  what  we are doing to develop good variety of cotton and to see that their
productivity goes up.

17.00 hrs.

	In order to see that the farmers get better prices for their cotton we
did allow the export of 10 lakh bales before  December.  Previously  only  two
lakh  bales  were allowed to be exported. I thought that the benefit should go
to the farmers. Whenever cotton is available with  the  farmer,  he  would  be
benefited  if  its export is allowed. So, I allowed 10 lakh bales of cotton to
be exported before December. I am sorry to say that much of the  cotton  could
not  be  exported  because  of  non-remunerative  prices  in the international
market. In 1994-95 it was one dollar per pound of cotton. In 1995-96,  it  was
86-88  cents  and now it is 72-74 cents. That is why the exports have not gone
as per our expectations.




[NEXT PAGE]