Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has conveyed that in order to educate Salt manufacturers, to improve quality of salt, to meet global standards and to compete in the international market, the Government has established Model Salt Farms at Nawa in Rajasthan, Ganjam in Odisha and Markanam in Tamil Nadu. Whereas the Model Salt Farms at Nawa and Ganjam have been established in collaboration with the State Government concerned and Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar; the Model Salt Farm at Markanam has been established in collaboration with CSMCRI, Bhavnagar. Further, training is also being imparted to salt workers for skill upgradation. 28 such training programmes have been organized in the last 3 years thereby benefitting 780 salt workers and 40 master trainers.
The Government is providing financial assistance to salt workers for labour welfare and development works, as stipulated under code of principles framed for the purpose. An expenditure of Rs. 98.89 lakhs has been incurred through Salt Commissioner’s Organisation (SCO) on Labour Welfare and Development Works during the last 3 years. The expenditure made in the State of Gujarat is Rs. 30.46 lakhs for the said purpose during the said period.