THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitaraman has assured that the centre has no plans to exclude rubber growers of Kerala from the ambit of subsidy scheme for planting and re-planting, state Finance Minister K M Mani told mediapersons in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The Union minister stated that the subsidy earmarked for North Eastern states was part of a drive to popularise rubber cultivation across the country. “Rubber subsidy was released after earmarking traditional and non-traditional areas. Subsidy in the traditional areas will continue,” she said. Kerala being a traditional area for rubber cultivation, the state government should evince special interest in its promotion, he said.
In his meeting with the Union Minister, Mani drew attention to reports that the Rubber Board will not entertain subsidy applications from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. He also submitted a memorandum to the Minister, expressing grave fears on how the policy would impact lakhs of rubber growers in the state.
“It is being reported that the Rubber board is for providing subsidy to growers in N-E states only, citing paucity of funds. Kerala accounts for 80% of Natural Rubber production in the country. N-E states constitute only 15% and new areas like Karnataka, Maharashtra etc covers the remaining 5%. Hence it is vital that the subsidy scheme for re-plantation in Kerala and Tamil Nadu has to continue,” he said. Mani told Seetharaman that the estimated cost of replanting a hectare of rubber is Rs 3.5 lakh. Subsidy component is Rs 25,000 only, which is meagre.
Mani also drew the Minister’s attention to the state of affairs at Rubber Board. The last Board had expired on February 28, 2014. “There is no regular chairman or members now. Even the post of the Rubber Production Commissioner is lying vacant,” he said.
