Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Jul 23, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Jul 23, 2004 |
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Industry & Economy
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Rural Development Nabard sets up `kora grass cluster' in Alappuzha Our Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram , July 22 THE Regional Office of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has launched the `Kora Grass Cluster' in Alappuzha district. Nabard has been supporting 100 such clusters in the country and this is the third in Kerala. The Bell Metal Cluster in Changanassery and the Straw Arts Cluster in Kollam are the existing ones, an official quoted Mr B.S. Shekhawat, Chief General Manager, Nabard Regional Office, Kerala, as saying. According to Mr Shekhawat, the apex agricultural and rural credit bank proposed to provide a financial grant of Rs 7.5 lakh for skill upgradation, advanced training for master craftsmen, training of 360 members of self-help groups (SHGs) by master craftsmen and for creating infrastructure such as a common facilities centre and market support, besides providing refinance support to banks. The Gandhi Smaraka Seva Kendra is the nodal agency for implementing the programme with support from agencies such as the District Industries Centres, `Surabhi' and `Kairali'. According to the spokesman, the `cluster' initiative aims at creating a sustainable and competitive advantage through technology upgradation, market support, raw material access, skill upgradation, managerial inputs and credit support. It also seeks to provide all support for sustainable development of rural crafts in a particular area/trade by bringing all agencies concerned under one umbrella. The Kora Grass Cluster will benefit SHG groups and help revive `kora' grass units in the district. Among those who attended the launch function held in Alappuzha was Dr K.M. Ramanandan, District Collector.
More Stories on : Rural Development | Kerala | Agricultural Institutions
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