December 3, 2019
Kalyan Banerjee speaks on the problems facing the jute industry
FULL TRANSCRIPT
In November 2018, the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs had taken a decision to procure 100 per cent jute bags for the purpose of supplying crops, paddy etc. Now the Jute Commission has even failed to implement the policies of the central government. Therefore, the jute industry is closing down. The workers are being forced out of employment.
Recently, the food ministry has issued a directive that procurement of two lakh bills of plastic bags would be done. One bill is equal to 500 plastic bags,that means 10,000 crore plastic bags would be utilised for the procurement of crops, instead of jute bags. Jute industry would suffer another setback.
Sir, I wish to point out that when the central government has issued a ban on the use of plastic, how can the food ministry issue such a directive for the utilisation of plastic bags for procurement? Whether the Cabinet’s approval has been taken by the cabinet committees or not? Cabinet committees’ decision cannot be superseded by a single ministry.
Sir, I will request you, or I will request the government, through you, Sir, that the 100 per cent procurement policy, if not implemented, one after another jute industries will fall down and these thousands and thousands of labourers, specially in the Hooghly district and the North 24 Parganas district, would be out of employment.
Therefore, I will request the government, through you, that these plastic bags, which have been ordered, should be recalled and jute bag order be replaced.
