Mysore, July 10 (DM)- KSIC Chairman C.P. Yogeeshwar said that KSIC would go in for demand-based production doubling of Mysore Silk sarees.

Addressing a press meet at the KSIC's new showroom at Ittigegud in city yesterday, Yogeeshwar said as of now, the Mysore Silk Factory produced 80,000 sarees and a target has been set to produce 1,60,000 sarees by next year. The factory is operating only on a single shift and as such production is limited, he said.

The factory has to be made operational in double shifts so as to double the production, for which the factory's retired employees, family members of deceased employees and new workers will be recruited, he said.

Claiming that the current production of sarees was not enough to meet the demands of KSIC showrooms, Yogeeshwar clarified that there was no question of appointing private agencies and the basic intention behind this was to maintain the quality of KSIC sarees.

Continuing, Yogeeshwar said a plan has been prepared to re-open the closed silk factory at Channapatna and the same would be placed before the Cabinet for approval. The State Govt. has been appealed to provide Rs. 20 cr. grant for the factory's revival and the main objective of the plan is to provide an appropriate market for silk cocoons produced by farmers. It is envisaged to produce affordable silk sarees in this revived factory.

The price of silk sarees produced in Mysore Factory commenced from Rs. 6,000 and now it has been decided to produce silk sarees in the range of Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 2,500 in this factory, he explained.

Maintaining that there have been no irregularities in the silk factory, Yogeeshwar said the KSIC, honouring the demand of its employees, had dropped the idea of selling sarees offered by private agencies.

KSIC MD M.K. Baladeva Krishna, who also addressed the press meet, said Mysore Silk sarees had a good demand in foreign countries and about 108 sarees were sold online since April. The turnover of this sales reached Rs. 16.5 lakh, he added.

Cine actress Ashwini and former Corporator M.S. Satyanarayana were present.

Workers protest

While the officials of KSIC were witnessing the inauguration of the factory's new showroom, the workers of Silk Factory numbering more than 100 staged a protest stir, raising slogans against the Corporation.Startled by this, the officers appealed the agitators to withdraw the stir.

The workers urged to stop the practice of purchasing sarees from private parties and selling the same under the factory's brand name which was causing huge losses to the factory.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore