Bhubaneswar. May 1: The Coir Board had opened five coir clusters in the state with an aim to financially help coconut farmers after the Covid pandemic.
However, three clusters have closed within two years for the apathetic attitude of both the state government and the Centre.
Odisha has ample opportunities for coir-based industry. The Coir Board under the Ministry of MSME announced for revival after the pandemic to financially support coconut farmers. It also announced for restoration of Odisha Cooperative Coir Corporation in 2021 by generating employment opportunity for around 50,000 women of the state, but no recruitment took place, said a senior official of the board
Five coir clusters were opened -one at Bhogarai in Balasore district, three in Puri district – Raghunath Coir Industry at Delanga, Radharani cluster at Satyabadi, Konark cluster at Gop and another one at Rajkanika in Kendrapara district.
The Coir Board had targeted to recuit around 1,000 employees, however, no significant initiative was taken in this regard. Now, Bhogarai, Konark and Rajkania clusters have closed due to non-recruitment of more employees while other two are struggling for survival.
Stipend and training facilities are provided to coir workers by the Coir Board and the state government. The coir workers and artists should be aware of it. Efforts are on to reopen the closed clusters, said Sunil Kumar of Jagamara Coir Board office in Bhubaneswar.
