Tag: Jute

State Govt providing training on spinning and weaving jute

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on State Govt providing training on spinning and weaving jute

The State Labour Department is providing training through a three-month course to unemployed youths on spinning and weaving jute. One of the main purposes of the initiative is to make these youths employable so that they can be absorbed in the jute industry.

The initiative had begun in financial year 2018-19. There has been a demand of skilled manpower in various jute industries across the State.

The training programmes are being conducted through various employment exchanges in the districts. Theoretical classes are held at different employment exchanges for one month following which the candidates have to visit various jute mills where practical training would be imparted to the trainees for two months.

The Directorate of Employment has started giving training at 10 centres in Bankura, Howrah, Dum Dum, Barrackpore, Chinsurah, Jhargram, Purulia, Kalna, Bolpur and Sreerampur. Two sub-centres have also come up in Basirhat and Uluberia to conduct the training programme.

The trainees will have to pay Rs 100 per day for theoretical training of one month, and Rs 180 per day for the first 45 days of practical training in jute mills and Rs 250 per day for the last 15 days. The trainees will be provided free accommodation and food during their stay at the jute mills.

Source: Millennium Post

Skill development training for employment in jute industry

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Skill development training for employment in jute industry

The Bengal Government has announced the starting of a skill development programme for people wanting to get employed in the jute industry.

Jute is a traditional industry of Bengal. Though it has suffered for many years, with the earnest effort of the Trinamool Congress Government, things are gradually looking up.

Important features of the programme are the provision for stipends and placement opportunities in the jute industry.

The courses, to be run by the Labour Department, would run for a period of three months, of which one month would be theoretical training and two months would be practical training.

The training centres have been set up at the employment centres in Bankura, Howrah and Dum Dum. With regards to qualifications, the minimum educational qualification should be class 8 passed and the minimum age should be 18 years.

Source: Govt ad

 

Agriculture Dept ensures sustainability of production & income for farmers

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Agriculture Dept ensures sustainability of production & income for farmers

The crop scenario of Bengal is very bright. The Agriculture Department has devised crop-specific interventions to ensure long-term sustainability of production, coupled with assured and improved incomes for farmers.

Rice, wheat, maize, jute, pulses, oilseeds and sugarcane are some of the major crops of the state.

Rice: System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an improved technology, has been adopted to increase production of rice at low cost. The State Government has been able to increase the area and production of aromatic rice like Gobindobhog and Tulaipanji.

Pulses: The Government has fixed an ambitious target of 4.75 lakh metric tonnes (MT) for financial year (FY) 2018-19 by using its extension machinery to increase the area under pulse production by utilising the rice fallow areas. From FY 2010-11 to FY 2016-17, the area under pulses has increased by 65 per cent and production by 77 per cent. The production during 2016-17 was 3.13 lakh MT. The estimated production for 2017-18 is 4.63 lakh MT, an estimated increase by 48 per cent.

Oilseeds: Stress has been given in increased production and yield of sunflower and groundnut because of their high potential. Distribution of quality seeds and other agricultural inputs, and training of farmers have been identified as the key components by the State Government to achieve its targets. Like for pulses, the Government is using its extension machinery to increase the area under production by utilising the rice fallow areas. Production was 9.24 lakh MT during 2016-17 and is estimated to be 9.67 lakh MT during 2017-18. The target for 2018-19 has been kept at 9.99 lakh MT.

Jute: Jute is an important cash crop of Bengal, covering an area of around 5.22 lakh hectares (ha). During 2016-17, the production and productivity were 81.87lakh bales and 15.67 bales/ha, respectively. The target for area under production and production for 2017-18 were 5.6 lakh ha and 84 lakh bales, respectively. The State Government, in collaboration with the National Food Security Mission (Commercial Crops) – Jute, runs Demonstration Centres, and supports the distribution of quality seeds and training of farmers with the aim of producing higher quality fibres.

Potato: Potato is a major crop in the State. The production and productivity during 2016-17 were 129.32 lakh MT and 30,608 kg/ha, respectively. For 2017-18, the targets for area under production and production have been kept at 4.36 lakh ha and 140 lakh MT, respectively. Emphasis has been given on the availability of disease-free quality micro-tubers. For this, the government has undertaken a programme for the production of good quality foundation seeds of potato from breeder seeds in government farms, so that high-quality seeds are available for the production of certified seeds.

Courtesy Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress Government, farmers have never had it as good. Every aspect of their lives has undergone a lot of changes. There are schemes to cover everything – from production to storage to financial aid for losses due to natural calamities to several other aspects.

 

রাজ্যে ফসলের হাল-হকিকত

 

২০১১ সালে ক্ষমতায় আসা থেকে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় জোর দিয়েছেন কৃষিজ ক্ষেত্রে ধীরে ধীরে স্বয়ংসম্পূর্ণ রাজ্য হিসেবে আত্মপ্রকাশ করা। এর জন্য দিয়েছেন কৃষিতে ব্যাপক গুরুত্ব। দেখে নেওয়া যাক এই মুহূর্তে রাজ্যে ফসলের হাল হকিকত।

এই দপ্তর শস্য ভিত্তিক উদ্যোগ নিয়েছে যাতে দীর্ঘদিন ধরে এই উদ্যোগ কার্যকরী হয় ও এর ফলে চাষিদের আয় বৃদ্ধি পায়।

চালঃঅল্প খরচে চালের উৎপাদন বৃদ্ধির জন্য সিস্টেম অফ রাইস ইন্টেন্সিফিকেশন গ্রহণ করা হয়েছে। রাজ্য সরকার গোবিন্দভোগ ও তুলাইপঞ্জির মতো জিআই ট্যাগপ্রাপ্ত সুগন্ধী চালের উৎপাদন ও উৎপাদনের ক্ষেত্র দুইই বাড়াতে সক্ষম হয়েছে। আরকেভিওয়াই-এর অধীনে ২০১৩-১৪ সাল থেকে চালের উৎপাদনের অঞ্চল ও সুগন্ধী চালের বীজ উৎপাদন বৃদ্ধিতে সক্ষম হয়েছে রাজ্য।

ডালঃরাজ্যের চাহিদার নিরিখে ডালের উৎপাদন কম হওয়ায়, সরকার জোর দিয়েছে ডালের উৎপাদনের ওপর। ২০১৬-১৭ সালে রাজ্যে ডাল উৎপাদন হয় ৩.১২ লক্ষ মেট্রিক টন, ২০১৭-১৮ সালে উৎপাদন হয় ৪.৬৩ লক্ষ টন। ২০১৮-১৯ সালে লক্ষ্য নেওয়া হয়েছে ৪.৭৫ লক্ষ মেট্রিক টন উৎপাদনের। ২০১০-১১ থেকে ২০১৬-১৭ সালে ডাল উৎপাদনের ক্ষেত্র বেড়েছে ৬৫ থেকে ৭৭ শতাংশ।

তৈলবীজঃএনএমওওপি উচ্চমানের বীজ ও অন্যান্য প্রয়োজনীয় সামগ্রী যোগান দিয়ে থাকে, এছাড়া কৃষকদের প্রশিক্ষণ দেওয়া হয় যাতে তৈলবীজের উৎপাদন ও তৈলবীজ উৎপাদনের স্থান বৃদ্ধি পায়। এর ফলে রাজ্যে চাহিদা ও উৎপাদনের মাঝে ব্যবধান কমবে। সূর্যমুখী ও বাদাম উৎপাদনে জোর দেওয়া হয়েছে। ২০১৬-১৭ সালে তৈলবীজ উৎপাদন হয়েছে ৯.২৪ লক্ষ মেট্রিক টন, ২০১৭-১৮তে ৯.৬৭ লক্ষ মেট্রিক টন ও ২০১৮-১৯ সালে উৎপাদনের লক্ষ্য নেওয়া হয়েছে ৯.৯৯ লক্ষ মেট্রিক টন।

পাটঃপাট একটি উল্লেখযোগ্য ক্যাশ ক্রপ। ৫.২২ লক্ষ হেক্টরে পাট চাষ হয়। ২০১৬-১৭ সালে ৮১.৮৭ গাঁট পাট উৎপাদন হয়, সেখানে প্রতি হেক্টরে উৎপাদন হয় ১৫.৬৭ গাঁট। ২০১৭-১৮ সালে পাট চাষের জমি বেড়ে হয় ৫.৬০লক্ষ হেক্টর ও মোট উৎপাদন বেড়ে হয় ৮৪ লক্ষ গাঁট।

আলুঃরাজ্যের অন্যতম গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ফসল আলু। ২০১৬-১৭ সালে উৎপাদন ও উৎপাদন ক্ষমতা ছিল যথাক্রমে ১২৯.৩২ লক্ষ টন ও ৩০,৬০৮ কিলো হেক্টর পিছু। ২০১৭-১৮ সালে ৪.৩৬ লক্ষ হেক্টর জমিতে উৎপাদন হয় ১৪০ লক্ষ মেট্রিক টন। জোর দেওয়া হয়েছে উন্নতমানের রোগমুক্ত আলুর কন্দ জোগানের।

Bengal Global Business Summit 2017 to emphasize on port, mining and MSME

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Bengal Global Business Summit 2017 to emphasize on port, mining and MSME

Port, mining and MSME will be the key areas to focus at Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) 2017.

Eyeing the third edition of BGBS, set to stage in on January 20-21, the Bengal Government is ready to proclaim mega investment proposals, a sizeable portion of which will come from private players in these sectors, the officials of industry and commerce department believe.

The Government recently framed a Maritime Policy with the help of global analytical company Crysil. With that, the government has also opened opportunities to widen ‘port based industrialisation’ to add a sharp edge in Bengal’s trade scenario.

Displaying the State as the possessor of third largest mineral resources across the nation, the State Government will look forward to get investment in mining sector as well. However, the commerce and industry department will promote sectors like textile, gems and jewellery, leather, jute, forging, casting, apparel and handicraft under MSMEs. The state government has already announced an investment to the tune of Rs 16,000 crore and 10,000 direct job creations in Tajpur Port and in the port-led industrial circuit there. The department has initiated Adani Ports and Essar Ports for investment there.

The development of robust infrastructure in ports, exploring various opportunities in consultation with global analytical firms and development of inland waterways to optimally leverage its maritime advantages are already underway. Now, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Limited (WBIDC) is ready to promote deep sea port at Tajpur, Sagar Island and new port with ship building facility at Kulpi.

The State will also talk about the coal reserves of Deocha Pachmi in West Bengal, second largest in the world, at 2,00,000 million tonne, alone can create many jobs. The Deucha Panchmari Dewangunj coalmines project will be implemented jointly by West Bengal Mineral Development Corporation and Bengal Birbhum Coalfields Ltd. The project is likely to be operational in 2019 and will employ about one lakh people.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) have indicated that Bengal has untapped reserves of iron ore, dolomites, tungsten, fireclay, granite and sand.

The State has tied up with Kudremukh Iron Ore Company (KIOCL) for iron ore deposit exploration. Recently, Kudremukh, a public sector company, has joined hands with the West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corporation (WBMDTC) to start a joint venture of Rs 850 crore.

MSMEs are undoubtedly the area which will get most of the attention in the upcoming BGBS. Handicraft, textile, jute, gems and jewellery have huge prospect in this state as adequate land is ready for making industrial parks.

The facts that would be showcased are various facilities and advantages of port-based industrialisation. The deep sea port at Bhor Sagar, which is a joint venture between the Centre and state government, will cost around Rs 16,000 crore. The work is under process in equity participation by Kolkata Port Trust and the state government. The project is also looking for a concessionaire through public private partnership (PPP). The requirement of land is 347 acre which is already in possession.

The green field port at Tajpur is going to be constructed in a revenue share model, as the state government is not looking for a joint venture with the Centre here. The state will build the main infrastructure and invite private players for the rest of the infrastructure. Revenue share model will be followed for the business.

বিশ্ববঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলন ২০১৭য় গুরুত্ব দেওয়া হবে বন্দর, খনি, ক্ষুদ্র শিল্পকে

বন্দর, খনি, ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পের ওপর বিশেষ গুরুত্ব দেওয়া হবে ২০-২১ জানুয়ারি ২০১৭তে অনুষ্ঠিত হতে চলা বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বানিজ্য সম্মেলনে।

বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বানিজ্য সম্মেলন এবার তৃতীয় বর্ষে। বড় বিনিয়োগ টানতে তৈরী রাজ্য সরকার। শিল্প ও বানিজ্য দপ্তরের বিশ্বাস এই বিনিয়োগের একটি বড় অংশ আসবে বেসরকারি বিনিয়োগকারীদের থেকে।

রাজ্য সরকার ইতিমধ্যেই একটি সামুদ্রিক নীতি (মেরিটাইম পলিসি) তৈরি করেছে বিশ্ব বিখ্যাত প্রতিষ্ঠান ক্রিসিলের সহযোগিতায়। বন্দর ভিত্তিক শিল্পের জন্য নানা উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হয়েছে রাজ্যের তরফে।

দেশের তৃতীয় সর্ববৃহৎ খনিজ সম্পদের অধিকারি রাজ্য হওয়ার কারনে রাজ্য সরকার খনিতেও অনেক লগ্নি আনতে সচেষ্ট । শিল্প ও বানিজ্য দপ্তর ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্পের অন্তর্গত বস্ত্র, রত্ন, গয়না, চামড়া, পাট, কামারশিল্প, ঢালাই ও হস্তশিল্পকেও তুলে ধরবে।

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy during the Short Dusration Discussion on agrarian crisis

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Sukhendu Sekhar Roy during the Short Dusration Discussion on agrarian crisis

Sir, with your kind permission I would like to speak in Bengali. Before that, a few lines in English because, you see, some figures have been given by the Minister of State, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare in the other House on March 1, 2016. In the reply to question number 913, and it appears from the reply, that total number of farmers’ suicides reported in 2015 all over the country is only 1,690, out of which 725 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra. But according to one report published in The Hindu on January 14, 2016, the data obtained by the Government shows Vidarbha was the worst-hit last year with around 1,541 farmers from the Amravati and Nagpur divisions committing suicide.

Toh yeh Government date ullekh karke bol rahe hain, yeh sarkar ka thtthya toh kuch alagh hain. Dono mein asmaam zameen ka farakh hain. Sir, now I would like to switch over to Bengali due to the fact that [in Bengali] amader rajye pat chashider obostha khub sangeen hoye porche kendriyo sarker-er bhul neetir jonyo. Sir, ami jeta bolte chaichi, ekhane jokhon notun sarkar ashlo BJP dol-er pokhyo theke je nirbachoni protishruti dewa hoyechilo, manifesto-r page 28-e bola hoyechilo that BJP will take steps to wind up profitability in agriculture by ensuring a minimum of 50% profit over the cost of production. Ekhon onek amader manoniyo sodoshyo-ra bollen je minimum support price-er kono boigyanik protha nei, kono bigyan-sommoto prothar madhyame ei minimum support price thik hoyna. Ekhon jemon khushi bibhinno agency-r madhyame eguli toiri hochhe, ebong amader rajye koto pat chash hoy, shei shomporkeo kono bigyan-shommoto assessment nei. Jute Corporation ekrokom hisheb dichhe, Jute Balers’ Association ekrokom hisheb dichhe, IJMA ekrokom hisheb dichhe ebong bibhinno sanstha bibhinnorokom hisheb dichhe. Shei jonno amar sarkar-er kache onurodh je pat chashi-der unnoti ghotanor sharthe shobcheye agae dorkar je keno pat chash kome jachhe ashonkajonok bhabe amader rajye sheta agae dekhte hobe. Sheta shudhu amader rajyer noy, Bharotborsher saat-ti rajye, in seven States of India cultivation of jute is going on for centuries together.

Sir, ki hochhe amader jute-er obostha jekhane 8 lakh kectare of land-e pat chash hoy, ebong jute hochhe ekta essential commodity. Satattor-ta (77) jute mill royeche shara desh-e, ebong prithibi-r moddhye shobcheye prachin jute mill amader rajye royeche ebong shobcheye beshi jute mill amader rajye royeche. Shutorang ek dike oshonkhyo pat sromik, onnyo dike oshinkho pat chashi poribar, tara aj sarkar-er kach theke thikmoto shohayok mulyo pachhe na bolei tader onekei emon durdoshar shommukhin hoye royechen, sarkar-er shey bishoy-e kono nojor nei. Ami, Sir, apnar madhyome sarkar-er kache onurodh korbo je minimum support price, sheta ke ekta emon jaygay niye jawa hok, sheta jeno mandi price-er theke, bajar dor-er theke sheta jeno ektu beshi thake, jate pat chashi-ra uthshahito hoy aro beshi pat chash korar jonyo.

Goto du bochor jokhon minimum support price eto kom chilo, ebong pat-er daam pore gelo, ebong pat chashi-ra distress sale korte badhyo holo, tokhon amader sarkar Mananiya Mamata Banerjee-er netritye 500 taka proti quintal chashi-der ke alada compensation-er byabostha korlen. Othocho amader barbar dabi kora sotteo kendriyo sarkar kono karnopat korlen na. Amader tai apnar madhyame ei sarkar-er kache abedan hobe je, shudhu Paschim Bange hoy, sara Bharatbarsher, bishesh kore je saat-ti rajye pat chash hoy, shei paat chashi-der swarthe ei nunotomo sahayok mulyo-ke, shei mandi price-er cheye opore jate jay, tar byabostha obilombe kora uchit, ebong ei season-eo je sohayok mulyo ghoshona kora hoyeche shetao parjaoto noy. Tar karon ek shrenir oshadhu patkol malik, tara raw jute-er daam kritrim bhabe bariye kritrim obhab srishti koriye pat chashider ke bonchito korche, ar tara otirikto munafa loot korche. Eta kono motei bordasto kora jayna. Apnar madhyame aamra sarkarer kache abedon korbo je minimum support price of jute must be increased to above the level of mandi price, otherwise the growers will not take interest in cultivation of raw jute.

Sir, shob sheshe ami shey kothata bolte chaichi je BJP tar nirbachoni protisruti te bolechilo je “genetically modified foods will not be allowed without full scientific evaluation.” Ebar ki evqaluation hochhe GM crop-er aamra kichui jani na, public ke jaante dewa hochhe na. Krishi doptor-er website-e shomosto bishoye, ki evaluation hoyeche na hoyeche, seta janate hobe public-ke jate public ei GM crop-er byapare shomosto evaluation dekhar por tara tader motamot janate pare, tara ei bishoye shothik podokkhep grohon korte pare, ebong amader krishok somproday, sara Bharatborsher krishok samprodayer motamot niye tobei GM crop ke utsahito kora hobe. Noile oi Maharashtra-er Bt cotton chasher modhyo diye jebhabe sorbonash ghoniye eseche Vidarbha anchal-e, Vidarbha-er chashidr moto shomosto chashider eki obostha hobe, ei obostha cholte dewa jay na. ami tai apnar madhyame sarkar-er kache abedan korbo je GM crop-er byapare ki scientific evaluation hoyeche shob kichu sobar gochore asha uchit.

WB Govt to use jute bags for packaging paddy

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on WB Govt to use jute bags for packaging paddy

West Bengal Government will now use 70% of jute made bags to package paddy. This was decided in a high-level meeting held at the State Secretariat, Nabanna.

Almost 40 lakh people in the State are directly or indirectly connected with jute. Last year, West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee had formed a committee of ministers to form a separate policy on jute.

This committee comprised state industry and commerce minister Dr Amit Mitra, food minister Mr Jyotipriya Mullick, agriculture minister Mr Purnendu Bose, labour minister Mr Malay Ghatak and the State jute commissioner.

Another committee has been formed in the meeting to procure jute bags for packaging of paddy. Such steps will be of much help to all the people connected to the jute industry in the State.

Saugata Roy raises the issue of sick jute industry during Zero Hour | Full Transcript

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Saugata Roy raises the issue of sick jute industry during Zero Hour | Full Transcript

Full Transcript

Madam, I am raising an issue, which I had raised last week regarding the jute industry in West Bengal. This is an issue which affects my colleagues Shri Dinesh Trivedi, whose constituency has 22 jute mills; Shri Kalyan Banerjee, whose constituency has many jute mills and Dr. Ratna De (Nag).

The jute is grown in Murshidabad, Nadia and all other parts up to Raiganj. In Bihar also, it is grown in Purnia, Supaul and many other parts of the State. So, it is a big problem. Over the last two years, the jute industry has been reeling under an existential crisis. This has led to around 25 per cent mills out of total of 56 in the State being shut and nearly one lakh workmen rendered jobless.

Even yesterday, Weaverly Jute Mill in Shyamnagar and Nadia Jute Mill at Naihati closed down making the tally to 11 jute mills closed in 11 days. The livelihoods of around 40 lakh farmer families are endangered due to uncertainty. In the meantime, Bangladeshi jute industry has doubled its size in last seven years and jute products are being hailed globally as an environment friendly alternative to plastics.

The precarious situation has arisen mainly due to the acts of the Central Government such as:

1) Dilution of the Mandatory Packaging Act – introduced by Shri Rajiv Gandhi – from 100 per cent reservation for sugar and foodgrains – 20 per cent for sugar and 90 per cent for foodgrains on strong lobbying by plastic industry;

2) continuous attempts to violate the Act further by sugar industry and procurement agencies:

(a) default in procurement of bags despite mandatory requirements,

(b) attempts to keep jute bags out of the National Food Security Mission,

(c) erratic indenting of jute bags in violation of established norms and system;

3) Erosion of the non-governmental market due to heavy imports from Bangladesh aided by

(a) zero duty on imports and

(b) 10 per cent export subsidy by Government of Bangladesh;

4) the procurement of jute bags has fallen from an average of 26.8 lakh bales annually (July to June) in 2013 to 20.3 lakh bales in 2013-14 and 19.9 lakh bales in 2014-15 (July to May);

5) The lack of demand has led to many mills cutting production which has aggravated labour issues, leading to violence and closure.

In the face of the shrinking market and added uncertainty about the future, the jute industry is going through de-growth. Investments in modernisation and product diversification have all but stopped since 2012-13. Joblessness among workers is creating skill deficit while uncertainty over market is discouraging jute farmers from adoption of the best practices developed over long years.

A strong supporting hand by the Central Government by way of stable orders for an extended time period and protection from cheap imports is required. This will lead to modernisation of industry resulting in cheaper and more efficient jute bags, diversification of products to increase market footprint beyond packaging into new areas like consumer bags, geotextiles etc. An environment-friendly and sustainable product like jute, will help solve a lot of national problems like river pollution, depletion of petrochemicals, landfill overload.

Madam, I had raised it last week. There is no response from the Minister. I have been looking for the Minister, Shri Gangwar, for the last three days. He is nowhere to be visible. Will there be any response from him? Or, will mill after mill close down? He is from Bareilly. There are no jute mills or textile mills in Bareilly. He does not care.

The industry is shutting down, putting lives of lakhs of farmers and workers at stake. There is no response from the Government as a whole to this big crisis in the jute industry. The Government remains silent. It is very strange that this is the way the Government is responding to people’s woes and miseries!

Saugata Roy speaks on the problems faced by jute mills in West Bengal | Full Transcript

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Saugata Roy speaks on the problems faced by jute mills in West Bengal | Full Transcript

Full Transcript

Jute mills are closing down not only in my constituency,  but also, in Barrackpore represented by Sri Denesh Trivedi, Serampore represented by Sri Kalyan Banerjee and also Hooghly represented by Dr Ratna De Nag.

The Jute industry in West Bengal, which employs 2.5 lakh workers, is going through a serious crisis. Though a Tripartite Wage Agreement was signed in the industry by the Government of West Bengal recently, serious labour trouble is erupting in different mills, especially in this month over non-payment of wages. On the morning of May 1, 2015, Notice of Suspension of Work was issued in Nafarchand and Kankinada Jute Mills in the Barrackpore industrial belt. On the same night, similar Suspension of Work Notice was issued in Victoria Jute Mill, Telinipara, in the Hooghly industrial belt. The mill employs 5000 workers. On May 2, 2015, labour trouble erupted in Wellington Jute Mill of Rishra and India Jute Mill in Serampore, both in Serampore parliamentary constituency.

The Prabartak Jute Mill in Kamarhati, has been closed recently. The Kamarhati Jute Mill, also in my constituency, has also been closed sometimes back. Also, the Calcutta Jute Mill in north Kolkata is lying closed. All these closed jute mills together employed 50,000 workers.

The main reason for their problems is that the mills are not getting adequate orders from the Government of India as par the Jute Packaging Materials Act. And, they are not getting orders from either Government of India for jute sacking and also from the State Government.

There is also a problem regarding rising price of raw jute. Unless the Textile Ministry intervenes immediately, the crisis is going to get worse and more employees will be thrown out of employment.

Madam, I would like the Textile Minister to say something. Even if he is not present, some other Minister can reply, just as the Home Minister replied to a question of Food Processing, some other Minister can reply on behalf of him. This is a serious issue. Jute mills are being closed in the State. What is the Minister doing?

Vivek Gupta speaks on Promotion of Handloom Industry of Bengal | Transcript

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Vivek Gupta speaks on Promotion of Handloom Industry of Bengal | Transcript

Sir, through you, I would like to know from the Hon’ble Minister about one of the products of the handloom industry. The jute industry is going through tremendous hardship and 40 lakh jute growers and 4 lakh jute workers are affected, specially in West Bengal. What initiatives have been taken by the Minister to prevent the dilution of the jute packaging order and also for the revival of the Khardah and Kinsan units, which had earlier received approval of the Cabinet for a Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction scheme, but now suddenly on November 20 have been removed from that scheme? And now five jute mills in Bengal have been declared sick and face immediate closure.

There has been no increase in the number of people being given health insurance. What is the reason behind this? According to Annexure I, after 2012, the number of people is fixed at 3,81,714. Does this mean that new additions would not be made?

According to Annexure IV, regarding handloom marketing assistance, why has New Delhi been named while mentioning the districts of Bengal? From when has New Delhi become a part of Bengal?

Ratna De Nag speaks on the sick jute industry | Transcript

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Ratna De Nag speaks on the sick jute industry | Transcript

I wish to bring to the notice of the government that jute industry is reeling under deep crisis due to reduction in demand of the jute goods in last one year. The sad part is that, eight jute mills have closed down. We are witnessing severe production cuts across the country resulting in over 1 lakh jute workers going jobless.

West Bengal contributes more than 80% of the total jute production. In West Bengal 64 jute mills are operating in unorganised sector, employing 3 lakh workers and supporting 40 lakh jute farmers. Nearly 40 lakh farming families and 25 lakh persons are directly involved in this trade. 23 lakh farming families are closely engaged in jute cultivation.

Of late, jute and allied fibre sectors are facing stiff competition from synthetics. Added to this, changing climatic conditions, shortage of labourers, non-availability of quality seeds and steep hike of different agricultural imports, have increased the cost of jute production considerably.

I would strongly ask the Minister of Textiles to go through the certain policy decision taken by it which leads to the current crisis and address the issues of requirements for packaging of food grains and sugar by knowing the exact picture from the representatives of the Indian Jute Mill Association.

Before taking any decision concerning the jute industry, I would strongly ask the central government to consult the Indian Jute Mill Association and all other stake holders and the West Bengal Government. I would like to request the central government to support the cause of jute industry so that placements of orders and productions would increase and closed jute mills in West Bengal reopen.

Thank you, Sir.