The Department of Sericulture in collaboration with Higher Education Department is setting up Cocoon Clubs in the Degree Colleges, one each in every district, of Kashmir and Jammu divisions.The objective of setting up these Cocoon Clubs is to engage the student community in silkworm rearing as a part time profession under the initiative of “Earn While You Learn”.The decision was taken in a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Director Colleges, Zahoor Ahmad Chat and Director Sericulture, Gulzar Ahmad Shabnum, Senior officers of Higher Education and Sericulture Departments also attended the meeting.The meeting decided that the colleges shall provide the housing facilities to these Clubs for the silkworm rearing, while as the Department of Sericulture shall provide silkworm seeds, disinfectants, green mulberry leaves, rearing kits and marketing facilities free of cost, besides extending the technical and other logistic support.These Cocoon Clubs shall start silkworm rearing activities during the commencing season for which all arrangements have been put in place. The concerned District Sericulture Officer shall be the nodal officer for monitoring the silkworm activities by these Clubs in coordination with the Nodal Officer of the college.Director Sericulture informed the meeting that the Department of Sericulture has taken a number of initiatives for extending the mulberry plantation and silkworm rearing activities with the involvement of more sections of society and other departments.
The establishment of Cocoon Clubs in the educational institutions shall provide an opportunity to the students to engage themselves in the silkworm rearing without any investment and to earn while learning, the Director said and added that this shall also help to inculcate a sense of professionalism and vocationalism among the student Community for becoming future entrepreneurs in silk sector.He said to ensure the availability of the green foliage for silkworm rearing in the premises of the colleges, the department of sericulture is also setting up mulberry gardens in these colleges. He said that once this pilot project kicks off successfully, more institutions of higher learning shall be adopted and even higher secondary schools shall also be covered under Cocoon Clubs programme.Director Colleges while appreciating the initiative taken by Sericulture Development Department said that it shall prove very beneficial for the students. He said it shall also provide a platform to the youths for adopting sericulture activities as a full-time job after completion of studies. He assured all support from the Higher Education Department and said that Principals of the colleges shall be asked to ensure that silkworm rearing activities by these Clubs are carried out smoothly and successfully.The 20 colleges where the Cocoon Clubs are being set up for silkworm rearing include Govt. Degree college, Poonch, Govt. Degree college, Rajouri, Govt. Women Degree College, Kathua, Govt, Degree College, Udhampur Govt. Degree College, Reasi, Govt. Degree College, Ramban, Govt. Degree College, Doda, Govt. Degree College, Kishtwar, Govt. Degree College, Samba, Govt. Degree college, Jindrah, Jammu, Govt. Degree College, Bemina, Srinagar, Govt. College for Women, Pulwama, Govt. Degree College, Kilam, Kulgam, Govt. Degree College,Budgam, Govt. Degree College, Kangan, Ganderbal, Govt. Degree College, Sogam, Lolab, Govt. Degree College, Shopian, Govt. Degree College, Bandipora, Govt. Degree College, Kukarnag and Govt. Degree College, Baramulla.