Trade and Industrial Related Functional Support Services (TIRFSS)

The Coir Board is responsible for promoting the sustainable development of coir industry in the country. The Coir Board has introduced a scheme called the Trade and Industrial Related Functional Support Services to develop the coir industry. Under the scheme, traders would be assisted in adopting market-oriented reforms that are required to market the product and to promote public-private partnerships through the initiative of ‘Trade and Industry Related Functional Support Services (TIRFSS)’. The measure has now been extended beyond the 12th plan period up to 2019-20 for which the Coir Board, Cochin continues to be the nodal agency for implementation of new development techniques. In this article, we look at the components included in TIRFSS.

Components

Trade and Industry Related Functional Support Services comprises of the following components:

• Knowledge Management
• Information Management
• Infrastructure Creation
• Human Resource Development

Knowledge Management

The knowledge management component is further classified into the following sub-components:

Coir Industry Survey: The objective of conducting coir industry survey is to collect and compile various aspects of the coir industry. Surveys are conducted according to the requirements, suggestions and recommendations specified in the survey report. This would be taken as a guiding parameter to prepare schemes and programmes for the coir industry of the respective states. The outcome of the implementation of the scheme and other related activities that have been undertaken would be reviewed by the Coir Board by adopting evaluation studies through outsourcing.

Market Analysis: Market analysis is authorised by outsourcing the services by Coir Board for particular product range and market, by targeting the domestic and international markets. This helps the industry for effective diversification of product range for improved value realisation.

Techno-Economic Feasibility Studies: Techno-Economic Feasibility is undertaken by outsourcing the development of coir industry, which also includes non-traditional areas. This will equip entrepreneurs in setting up coir-based units and increase the use of raw material potential. Economic feasibility study reports will be formed as a part of the base document for certain states that formulate schemes and programmes to adopt the implementation procedure according to the regional environment.

Economic Research: Economic Research pertains to the following areas:

• Customer needs, trends and preferences
• Products
• Competition from substitutes and synthetic products
• Technology to satisfy customers demands
• Promotional techniques
• Branding.
• Designing new products.
• Government Promotional Assistance.
• Logistics
• Product Diversification
• Other areas to increase the consultancy services of field experts, catering other requests of Board to facilitate the industry, etc.

Information Management

The Information Management component further comprises of the following sub-components:

Data Collection: The periodical collection and data compilation on the production of coir material and products, domestic consumption, export and other related information would be undertaken by the Board on reciprocal understandings. The expenditure to meet the requirements would be allocated according to the norms of the Government of India.

Data management: An integrated management system will be developed with the following benefits:

• Implementation of the mobile application to monitor the activities of the schemes.
• Financial accounting, marketing, statistics, etc.
• Implementation of e-office at sub-offices of Coir Board.
• e-office at sub-offices of Coir Board.
• Integrated financial accounting system to incorporate the activities of the Board.
• Develop tools to monitor Human Resource Management system.
• Improve IT tools for planning and budgeting.
• Database management system.
• Data storage application.
• Inter-phase for data collected from an external source.
• Tools for data analysis.
• Implementation of data security tools.

Library: The library now includes an integrated e-governance system. A web-based library is proposed to be introduced, which would enable every employee to access the details of the books/ periodicals that are available in the library. To update knowledge/ developments in various fields, the required books would be procured by following the prescribed rules and regulations.

Connectivity: Development of a web-based E-governance system will facilitate the public to exchange information quickly, thereby providing a platform for online interaction with the Coir Board. The work of web-based E-governance system would be performed by people outside the agencies.

Hardware and Networking: Computer and hardware equipment would be produced as per the Government norms after recognising the usual formalities in GFR. Required improvement/ updation of the website/ portal of the Board would be made under the supervision of the National Informatics Centre.

Infrastructure Creation

Infrastructure for trade activities and physical requirements to implement IT-related and other activities would be provided by the Board in its Head Quarters and Sub-Offices. Expenditure would be incurred in the following areas::

• Maintenance/Creation of the physical structure and providing infrastructure facilities at the Head Quarters/ ROs/ SROs.
• Development of trade facility centres in coir production areas.
• Construction of CEO quarters/guest house.
• Module to furnish IT related infrastructure.
• The hiring of accommodation facilities at Delhi for Regional offices and guesthouses.

Human Resource Development

An organised human resource development programme would be established for the Board’s officials, stakeholders of the industry, manufacturers, coir workers and major market players. To implement this, the Coir Board organises HRD programmes through organisations including Central/ State/ others to improve the capabilities of the human resource of the Board as a part of capacity building and inter-alia, to offer effective market promotion support to the industry.

After consulting with trade and industry, the Board organises training programmes for stakeholders who are engaged in industry in market promotional activities and creating awareness about incentives that are available under different schemes of the Government of India. The Coir Board outsources the preparation of manuals, project reports and other documents for capacity building developmental activities, etc.

Expenditure

The expenditure for every component, subcomponents and interventions of the scheme would be met by the Coir Board according to the provision of General Financial Rules (GFRs) and instructions that are issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India within the approved allocations.