Seeking to boost cotton production so as to meet the state's requirements, Tamil Nadu Government today proposed launching a cultivation mission for the crop at an initial outlay of Rs 50 crore.
"It is proposed to bring at least 3.70 lakh acres under cotton cultivation by 2014-15, and ultimately increase it to six lakh acres in the next five years," Handlooms and Textiles Minister S Gokula Indira said in the state assembly.
She said textile mills in the state required around 120 lakh bales of cotton annually even as production stood only around five lakh bales while the rest of the requirement was met through import and supply from other states.
"Government has now proposed to launch Cotton Cultivation Mission with an initial outlay of Rs 50 crore. This Mission will focus on higher productivity and production. Funds under the Cotton Technology Mission of the Government of India will also be dovetailed with the state mission," she added.
It has also allocated Rs 499.16 crore for distribution of 'cost-free' dhoties and sarees to the needy for the Pongal festival next year, she said.
Nearly 3.5 crore dhoties and sarees had already been supplied to the districts for the festival celebrated in January.
She also announced increase in the allocation for providing free electricity to handloom weavers (100 units bi-monthly) and powerloom weavers (500 units) this year from Rs 10.51 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 11.03 crore and Rs 235.10 crore to Rs 246.86 crore respectively.
