New Delhi, Nov 25 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee Monday inaugurated the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Coir Board of India at a function at Vigyan Bhavan here.

“I would very much like to see this industry become self-sufficient in terms of raw material procurement... and I would urge employers to ensure that the workers engaged in this industry are provided enhanced support through the insurance and welfare schemes of the government,” Mukherjee said at the event.

The function saw the announcement of the government’s plan to bring out a coin commemorating the Coir Board’s 60th anniversary. “The coin is likely to be released in February 2014,” Coir Board chairman G Balachandran said.

Mukherjee hailed the Coir Board for launching initiatives to upgrade technology, noting that it was vital considering that women constituted four-fifths of the industry’s labour force. “It is noteworthy that the Board has earned India Rs.1,000 crore through exports of commodities,” he added.