Bengal to benefit from new textile policy, gets 5 jute CFCs

The new proposed Textile Policy, which is likely to be placed in the Budget session of Parliament is expected to benefit West Bengal as special incentives may be announced for the eastern region states.

"We expect to place the new policy in the Budget session and it will be a long-term policy for 10 years," Minister of State for Textiles Santosh Kumar Gangwar said here at the National Jute Board event.

The government was also looking into special incentives for manufacturing units to be set up in the North-east, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, officials said.

The textile sector employs 35 million people and aims to double the number by 2022. The government is focusing on training youths in different skills to meet this target.

Speaking about need for jute diversification, the minister said it is possible in several product lines at launch of three Common Facility centres for jute at National Jute Manufactures Corporation mills at Howrah, Alaxendra and Kinnison at a cost of Rs 6.40 crore and provide direct employment to over 5,000 people. Gangwar announced another two at Jalpaiguri and Sunderbans and sanctioned Rs 2 crore for each centre.

With one each at Assam and Bihar, total jute CFCs count will be seven. Gangwar also launched a new Jute Raw Material Bank (JRMB) Scheme under which each JRMB will be supported by over Rs 15 lakhs annually to help provide jute raw materials at reasonable price and in required quantity to the artisans, crafts person and weavers.