Udupi; Nov 17: Our district is a land of coconuts and areca nuts. But due to the lack of knowledge in the proper usage of “Kalpavriksha”(a legendry tree of heaven, which grants all wishes) coconut, our people are using coconut husks more as firewood and making it ashes.
According to H.K.Rajashekar, regional organizer, Karnataka State coir development board, from the coconut coir, it is possible to produce long lasting, multipurpose products. For our people enough informations should reach about by converting coir into eco-friendly, greenery-friendly and become professionals. Without spoiling the peace and eco-friendly atmosphere in rural region, keeping rural women in mind, in-coperation with district industrial development department, under the guidance of Udupi district commissioner, scheme has been started in four places of the district.
Rajashekar further said that when he was serving in Chickmaglur as an administrator in the board, Naxal attack in Kerekatte inspired him to start this project. In remote places, eco-friendly, without any health haphazard profession, that too by keeping women in mind, it was decided to start production units. With the support from district commissioner and state coir board development organizing director’s guidance, when we were communicating with Naxal affected region’s panchayats about our plan of setting up units, Kundapur Jadkal Panchayat was the first panchayat to respond us.
Responding to the reaction of Jadkal panchayat, coir development board has started one small unit in Mudooru, which is in the jurisdiction of Jadkal panchayat and trained 70 people and became permanent professionals. Then by starting units in Idhubaru and Mala in Karkala taluk, now in Idhubaru 24 SC/ST and tribal people from hilly region gained an employment. In Mala there are 24 people working and they will be paid minimum of Rs 100 to Rs 150 per day. There was no need to worry about raw materials, marketing etc.However if they excelled in their profession, local women can enter into partnership, he says.
Under hilly tribal community welfare project, new building has been started building in Mudooru and for the construction of permanent building in one acre of land, preface has been written. The units which are coming in the future will not depend on electricity but depend on solar energy, a pro-greenery project. In Sastanu there is a production unit and marketing centre. The co-operation of PDO of this Panchayat cannot be forgotten, he said.Sastanu Panchayat has also evinced interest in employment guarantee project.
Export from Udupi Sastanu marketing centre to other states: Apart from these, it has also been decided to demonstrate production mobile unit in each taluk, where raw materials are available in abundant. Products are being transported to Maharashtra, Mangalore, Sullia, Theerthahalli, Sagar, Sirsi, Karwar and Hubli. Beds are being supplied to hospitals and hostels from the production units only. So far, from these units, six and half crore rupees budget production has been produced. There will be a future for partnership and marketing for this profession, he said.
