Lok Sabha Question No. 5434 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-06
Subject: Miserable Condition of Jute Workers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN

.

## MISERABLE CONDITION OF JUTE WORKERS

## 5434.   SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी be pleased to state:

(a) whether  producers,  labourers  and  artisans  engaged  in  the  Jute  industry  are  in  a  miserable condition;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of schemes/programmes launched for the development of Jute industry, including welfare of jute workers;

(d) the  funds  allocated  and  utilized  and  progress  made  in  improving  the  quality  of  life  of  jute workers during the last three years and the current year; and

(e) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  Government  to  provide  them  with  sufficient  marketing facilities for improving their standards?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( श्री अज )

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI AJAY TAMTA)

(a) & (b): In  order  to  assess  the  living  conditions  of  jute  workers,  a  study  on  the  SocioEconomic Conditions of Jute Mill Workers was conducted in 2015-16 by National Jute Board (NJB). The findings of the study, inter alia, indicate that 96.4% workers have electricity in their houses; that 91% of the families have piped water supply; that 99% of the workers have access to toilets; and that the mill workers have health coverage under ESI.

(c) to (e): Government  of  India  provides  an  assured  market  to  the  jute  sector  under  the  Jute Packaging  Materials  Act  (JPM),  1987.  Under  this  Act,  Government  has  mandated  that  90%  of foodgrains  and  20%  of  sugar  be  packed  in  jute  bags.  The  annual  purchase  of  jute  sacking  by Government Agencies amounts to Rs.5500 crores approximately. Apart from this, the National Jute Board (NJB) has been implementing several measures for the benefit of workers, artisans and small producers and for promotion of the jute industry.  These include:

- (i). Workers' Welfare Scheme (Sulabh Sauchalaya) for  improvement of sanitation,  health  facilities  and  working conditions of jute mill workers.
- (ii). Incentives to Children of Jute Mill Workers for extending support to the Workers' families towards education of their children through a scholarship scheme.
- (iii). Export Market Development Assistance Scheme to facilitate registered manufacturer exporters of jute products to participate in international fairs and take business delegations abroad for export promotion of lifestyle and other diversified jute products
- (iv). Retail Outlet of Jute Diversified Products Scheme for providing assistance to jute entrepreneurs for opening of outlets of jute lifestyle jute products in Metro Cities, State capitals, District Head Offices and Tourist spots; and
- (v). Focused Market Initiatives for organising and participation in Jute Fairs, National Fairs / Regional Fairs, Export oriented fairs in India & abroad to extend marketing support to the artisans, small and micro entrepreneurs:

The details of the above initiatives and the funds utilised under the above schemes are given in the ANNEXURE .

## Interventions by the National Jute Board during the last 3 years and the current year for Development of the Jute Industry and Welfare of Jute Workers:

## (i) Workers' Welfare Scheme (Sulabh Sauchalaya)

90% of the cost of construction of the sauchalaya is incentivized by NJB.

2013-14

305.84

17

14

Rs. Lakhs

No. of Toilet Blocks

No. of Mills

## (ii) Incentives to Successful Children of Jute Mill Workers

Support provided to 7546 children of Jute Mill workers for being successful in secondary and higher secondary examinations and also to successful graduate and post graduate children:

2013-14

122.30

1674

Rs. Lakhs

No. of Students

## (iii) Export Market Development Assistance Scheme

This scheme facilitates registered manufacturer exporters of jute products to participate in international fairs and business delegation abroad for export promotion of lifestyle and other diversified jute products by providing 50% of the space rent and travel cost.

2013-14

230.09

61

Rs. Lakhs

No. of Beneficiaries

## (iv) Retail Outlet of Jute Diversified Products Scheme

Provides  assistance  to  jute  entrepreneurs  for  opening  of  outlets  of  jute  lifestyle  jute  products  in  Metro  Cities,  State  Capitals, District Hospitals and Tourist spots.

|                |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 (Feb. 2017) |
|----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------------------|
| Rs. Lakhs      |     84.78 |     71.11 |     94.75 |                 19.67 |
| No. of Outlets |     10    |     11    |     20    |                 13    |

## (v) Focused Market Initiatives

NJB organises Jute week, Jute fairs etc. to extend marketing support to the artisans, small and micro entrepreneurs.

Sl.

1.

2.

3.

Activity

No. of fairs

No. of units which participated in the fairs

Expenditure

2013-14

73

1211

Rs.709 lakhs

## (vi)  Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Select Machinery

This scheme provides incentives for acquisition of plants and machinery for jute industry and jute diversified products manufacturing units .

2013-14

236.29

12

2014-15

362.18

18

2015-16

480.01

30

2016-17 (Feb. 2017)

779.17

22

2014-15

61

898

Rs.551 lakhs

2015-16

49

682

Rs.273 lakhs

2016-17 (Feb. 2017)

57

771

Rs. 361 lakhs

2014-15

272.78

51

2015-16

306.48

63

2016-17 (Feb. 2017)

233.71

42

2014-15

187.20

2721

2015-16

246.40

3151

2016-17 (Feb. 2017)

54.20

722

2014-15

194.33

13

9

Rs. Lakhs

No. of Mills

2015-16

249.46

12

9

2016-17 (Feb. 2017)

96.76

8

4