Welcome to Arjun Ram Meghwal

Will the Minister of

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the granite industry was affected by global recession leading to decline in granite exports and import of rough marble blocks and slabs;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the exim policy of the Government and action taken by the Government to protect the marble/granite industry; and

(c) the measures being taken by the Government to protect the labourers working in cutting and polishing units?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

(a): The global recession is one of the major factors leading to the decline in granite exports & products. The export of granite is slowly decreasing. There is a erosion in the realization of cost, overhead and competitiveness owing to the recent financial melt down and economic slow down and appreciation of the rupee against the dollar.

(b): The details regarding exports of granite during the last three years are as under:-

	
				(Value : Rs.  In Lakhs)
Description			2006-07	2007-08	2008-09



Granite Tiles			179198	133256	96068
Granite cut blocks/slabs	193507	170250	183299
Granite Products 		35853	33158	27817

Import of rough marble & rough granite is restricted. Only a limited specified quantity of rough marble is allowed to be imported on annual basis. The objective of this limitation on the one hand is to protect the domestic mining industry and the associated employment thereof and on the other hand, the imported marble meets requirement of premium quantity marble, not readily available in India and primarily required for construction purpose. Necessary policy instructions have been issued by the Government. Besides, to arrest the decline in exports including the products made out by cutting and polishing units, Govt/RBI have taken a number of measures in the form of stimulus packages and significant support measures have been announced in the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14 and thereafter particularly for employment oriented sectors.

(c): In the organized sector, labour units or establishments employing persons beyond specified limits are covered under the relevant labour laws and are regulated accordingly. The labourers working in unorganized sectors are covered under the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008. This is applicable to labourers employed in cutting and polishing industry also.