Centre frames blueprint for jute industry to gallop to new high
New Delhi: Center is implementing development schemes for the upliftment of the jute sector, the textile ministry mentioned in a written answer on the Floor of the House on Friday.
Questions were raised in both the Houses over the growing numbers of job loss in the sector after more than 8 per cent increase was recorded from neighbouring Bangladesh. However, the ministry clarified that "no report of crisis in the jute industry, including the closure of the jute mills." In fact, it stressed on the re-opening of 10 jute twine mills in Andhra Pradesh.
The ministry data shows that the last financial year scores the highest amount of exports of the jute goods of Rs. 2273.27 crore- increase of more than 5 per cent. For the meantime, 20 countries import jute goods from India, including, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Turkey, Spain and others, the data mentions.
Besides, aiming the welfare of jute workers and the development of the industry, the textile ministry has specified the usage of Jute Packaging Materials under the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987 for packing. At present, a minimum of 100 per cent of food grains and a minimum of 20 per cent of sugar is to be compulsorily packed in jute sacking.
The ministry further specified that whenever the market price of raw jute falls below a certain level, the Jute Corporation of India (JCI) procures raw jute at Minimum Support Price (MSP), fixed on the basis of the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Cost and Prices (CACP) from jute growers to safeguard their interest.
The Export Market Development Assistance (EMDA) Scheme facilitates registered manufacturers and exporters of jute products to participate in international fairs and business delegation abroad for export promotion of lifestyle and other JDPs and boost exports. In the last five years, jute products of Rs. 17.21crores has been disbursed to registered jute exporters for participation in international fairs.
Further, ensuring the health and hygiene at the mills, 1365 toilet units have been constructed in 46 Jute Mills from 2014 to 2019 under the 'Swachhatta Abhiyan–Sulabh Sauchalaya Scheme', ministry data mentioned.
Also, NJB in association with Jute Corporation of India Ltd, CRIJAF and agricultural ministry is implementing a scheme for welfare of jute farmers- 'Jute –ICARE', covering 69 blocks of jute growing states for the last four years. It has encouraged farmers to grow jute by using certified seeds, adopting the scientific technique in jute cultivation to help in the production of quality jute. This helps the cost too. NJB's incentive scheme for acquisition of plant and machinery gives 20 per cent of the cost of machineries to jute mills and 30 per cent to the MSME –JDP units. However, the scheme was launched in 2013.
Jute Raw Material Bank scheme also to make jute raw materials available to the small and tiny artisans or entrepreneurs locally at mill gate price. Market Promotion support is provided to the jute artisans, entrepreneurs, weavers, NGOs, Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) for selling, marketing and promotion of their products in India and abroad.
A jute design cell has been set up at NID, Ahmedabad to design bags and accessories.
The National Jute Board also provides scholarship support to the girl children of the workers of Jute Mills or JDP – MSME units on passing out secondary and Higher Secondary examinations. In the last five years Rs. 1133.05 lakh have been given to 17,722girl children.
