(a): the number of workers employed in rural and Cottage industries, particularly in production of honey and its trading, in Kanyakumari district, State-wise;
(b): whether these workers are lacking storage and marketing facilities;
(c): whether the Government has received any proposal under Scheme for Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI); and
(d): if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?
MINISTER OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES & AGRO AND RURAL INDUSTRIES (SHRI MAHABIR PRASAD)
(a): As on 31.03.2006, 12.55 lakhs workers and artisans were engaged in khadi and village industries in Tamil Nadu State. 1828 persons are engaged in beekeeping and production of honey in the Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.
(b): Beekeepers of Kanyakumari District have sufficient infrastructure for storing, processing and bottling of honey. They, however, face marketing problems due to inter-State variations in procurement price.
(c)&(d): 29 clusters of khadi (including 2 in Tamil Nadu), 50 clusters of village industries (including 3 in Tamil Nadu) and 25 clusters of Coir (including 6 in Tamil Nadu) have been identified for development under SFURTI.