July 26, 2024
Sukhendu Sekhar Ray’s Zero Hour mention on the need to address the crisis in the jute industry in Bengal
Many jute mills in West Bengal have drastically reduced their operational shifts in the past few months due to financial constraints and insufficient orders from the States for packaging of food grains with jute bags. Despite its critical role in the agrarian economy, jute is being sold below the Minimum Support Price, destabilizing farmers’ finances and discouraging further cultivation. The implementation of supportive policies has been ineffective, and the Ministry of Textiles has not shown the required assertiveness in addressing the pressing issues of the jute industry. This ineffectiveness s reflected in the reluctance of State Purchasers to place orders with the Jute Commissioners Office, the regulatory authority, for the implementation of the Jute Packaging Materials Act and the Jute and Textiles Control Order. The combined effects of reduced production, sales below MSP and lack of effective support from Central authorities, Jute Commissioner, JCIL and the Ministry of Textiles have created widespread distress. Therefore, I would urge upon the Government to intervene without further loss of time to bail out the jute industry from this critical situation in public interest. Thank you.
