MANDI: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Wednesday started the second Silk Seed Production Center of the state at Thunag in Seraj assembly segment in Mandi district that will facilitate sericulture farmers.
The Chief Minister also presided over the closing ceremony of Seraj Cultural Festival organised under Seraj Youth Sports and Cultural Festival.
Chief Minister inaugurated the Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (HPBOCWWB) sub-office at Thunag.
Addressing gathering at Thunag, Thakur said 12 thousand farmers of the state are involved in sericulture. To meet the requirement of 7500 ounces of silk for the state, 2500 ounces of silk was being produced by Palampur, the first Silk Seed Production Center of the state.
The remaining 5000 ounces of silk would now be met by the Thunag Silk Seed Production Center, he added.
He said that the construction work of Silk Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Center at Bali Chowki with an expenditure of Rs. 4.94 crore was about to be completed, which is the first Centre in northern India.
He said that the construction work of Government Silk Center at Bagachanaugi, Saroa, Dharot, Murah, Deem-Kataru was nearing completion with the cost of Rs 2.5 crore to promote silk industry in Seraj Valley.
He said that Rs. 1.5 lakh per farmer would be provided to 200 farmers of scheduled caste category for construction of silkworm rearing house. Rs. 80 lakh has been provided to 200 farmers for silkworm rearing equipments and Rs. 28 lakh was being provided for mulberry plantation to 200 farmers of scheduled castes.
Besides this, Rs. 50 lakh has been provided to 700 farmers of general category for mulberry plantation and purchase of silkworm rearing material. He said that these activities would give boost to the silk industry in the state besides generating self-employment opportunities.
Chief Minister said Seraj Youth Sports and Cultural Festival provided a platform to 14 thousand rural youth with participation of 1390 teams of Seraj Valley.
He said that such events encourage sportsmanship and traditional sports along with playing a vital role in conservation of our rich cultural heritage.
Chief Minister also inaugurated the 84th branch of HDFC Bank in Himachal Pradesh at Thunag. He said that with the opening of this branch, door-to-door loan facility would be available to small and marginal farmers.
The benefits of various government schemes are directly transferred into the account of the beneficiaries.
He appreciated efforts of the bank for distribution of 85 thousand apple saplings through Sanjeevini organisation to 9185 farmers of 16 panchayats of Seraj Block under Plantation Project to boost the livelihood of apple producers.
