Union Minister Irani assures help on sericulture

Zhaleo Rio, IAS (Retd), Advisor to Sericulture, Excise & Minority Affairs, GoN along with Smriti Irani, Union Minister of Textiles, GoI, and OSD Zaputuo Lhoungu in New Delhi on November 25. (Photo Courtesy: Z Lhoungu)

Dimapur, December 1 (MExN): In a bid to boost economic empowerment of the needy in Nagaland, Zhaleo Rio, IAS (Retd), Advisor to the Department of Sericulture, Excise & Minority Affairs, met Smriti Irani, Union Minister of Textiles, Government of India in New Delhi on November 25. 

While expressing appreciation to the Union Minister for sanctioning 5 Sericulture Developmental Projects to Nagaland since 2014-15 to 2018-19 under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), Rio disclosed that "approximately 18,000 families have been identified as sericulturists in Nagaland and of which, about 5000 farmers have been assisted under the above schemes."

He also revealed that Nagaland was awarded the "Best Eri producing state in the country" in 2018 for its quality produce in sericulture, stated a press release from Media Secretary, NDPP 5 Ghaspani-II A/ C.

During further interaction, Rio highlighted that there were still thousands of identified sericulturists in dire need of assistance and requested the Union Minister to consider the Project Proposals under submission to the said Ministry through NERTPS during 2019-20. He said that it can cover about 3000 families including the request for extension of NERTPS program among Northeastern states particularly Nagaland, “which is a resource crunch state.”

The Union Minister assured to help the state in all possible way and expressed optimism on continuation of NERTPS program. The Advisor was accompanied by his OSD, Zaputuo Lhoungu, besides other department officials.