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New scheme for food processing units

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 23. The Union Cabinet today cleared a Rs. 250-crore scheme to develop the infrastructure for food processing industry and a Rs. 120-crore scheme for the growth of colleges offering courses in ayurveda and other indigenous systems of medicine. The scheme for the food processing sector envisages the setting up of food parks and packaging centres, modernisation of abattoirs, the establishment of an integrated cold chain and value-added centres and the provision of irradiation facilities for the preservation of food articles.

As per the scheme, 25 per cent of the cost of plant and machinery will be provided as assistance in general areas and 33 per cent in case of "difficult areas" - Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, northeastern States, the Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep and the integrated tribal development project areas.

In the case of irradiation facilities, the assistance is up to Rs. 5 crores while for food parks and projects for the modernisation of abattoirs the assistance is Rs. 4 crores, for packaging centres up to Rs. 2 crores, and for cold storages and value-added centres Rs up to . 75 lakhs.

Grant for ayurveda courses

To upgrade the existing infrastructure which has become dilapidated over the years, to provide assistance to institutions offering post-graduate courses in ayurveda and to help increase the availability of trained personnel for teaching purpose as well as clinical practice the Cabinet has cleared a Rs. 120-crore scheme. The scheme has a component for conducting re-orientation training programmes to help teachers and physicians update their knowledge.

The meeting also cleared a proposal to sign an agreement with Malaysia for cooperation in the area of tourism and decided to extend the Centrally-sponsored scheme of technology mission for integrated development of horticulture in northeastern States to Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. The tourism pact with Malaysia envisages exchange programmes in a variety of areas including training of personnel and investments. The two countries would set up a working group for the implementation of the agreement.

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