Replying to a question, he said the indigenous production of silk yarn in the country was only about 15,000 tonnes as against a demand of 25,000 tonnes. The gap is met through imports, particularly from China, he added.

Rana pointed out that CSB has been asked to take various steps to increase the yarn production from major silk producing states. Each producer state has been asked to submit project proposals for CSB financing.

He told Jaiprakash Jaiswal that the government would promote yarn production around Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. So far, Varanasi remained a major silk weaving centre without much yarn production in the area.

Rana told Prakash Chandra Tiwari that CSB would set up a new silk grading centre at Bhagalpur in Biharas it is a major tassar weaving centre.

He conceded the point made by V Radhakrishnan that the government should encourage setting up of silk weaving units in Kerala which has recently ventured into yarn production, taking up six projects supported by CSB.

The minister promised Chamanlal Gupta that the government would take steps to save Jammu and Kashmir's silk farmers from exploitation by traders through price manipulation.

He told Pawan Singh Ghatowar that the government would promote new schemes in the north-east for promoting silk production and weaving activities.

He informed Asim Bala that the textiles ministry has recommended to the finance ministry for higher pay and perks to the silk scientists, in line with those allowed to the agricultural scientists with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The minister told Mohan Rawle that a detailed revival package for all the sick units of the National Textile Corporation (NTC) had been sent to the union cabinet forapproval.