Lok Sabha Question No. 3740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-09
Subject: Performance of Jute Sector
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: ANUPAM HAZRA

## PERFORMANCE OF JUTE SECTOR

## 3740.      DR ANUPAM HAZRA:

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

(a) the performance of Jute Manufactures Development Council, the Jute Corporation of India,  National  Jute  Manufactures  Corporation,  Jute  Manufactures  Council  and  National Centre for Jute Diversification all based in Kolkata during the financial years 2015-16 and 2016-17 for better production in India and abroad; and

(b) their  performance to  raise  the  standard  of  living  of  jute  growers  and  manufacturers and upgrading the products in West Bengal?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र राज्य मंरी (श्री अजय टम्टा)

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

(a) & (b) The Government has taken several initiatives to raise the standard of living of jute growers and manufacturers in the jute sector including in West Bengal by implementing schemes through its organizations like National Jute Board (NJB), Jute Corporation of India (JCI) etc.  NJB  was  established on  1 st April,  2010  under  the  National  Jute  Board  Act,  2008 subsuming the two erstwhile organizations: Jute Manufactures Development Council (JMDC) and  National  Centre  for  Jute  Diversification  (NCJD).  NJB  has  been  implementing  specific schemes for increasing productivity and production of jute and jute goods in the country. The details  of  the  schemes  implemented  by  NJB  during  the  years  2015-16  and  2016-17  are  as follows:-

- i. Jute-ICARE (Jute: Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise): This pilot project launched in 2015 is aimed at addressing the difficulties faced by the jute cultivators by providing them certified seeds at subsidized rates, seed drills to facilitate line sowing, nail-weeders  to carry out periodic weeding and by popularising several newly  developed  retting  technologies  under  water  limiting  conditions.  This  has resulted  in  increased  returns  to  jute  farmers.  A  total  amount  of  Rs.  7.85  crores  was spent during the years 2015-16 and 2016-17 benefitting more than 63,000 farmers.
- ii. Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plants and Machinery (ISAPM): Government of  India  is  implementing  ISAPM  for  Jute  Industry  and  Jute  Diversified  Products Manufacturing  Units.  The  basic  aim  of  this  scheme  is  to  facilitate  modernization  in existing and new jute mills and up- gradation of technology in existing jute mills and to provide assistance to a large number of entrepreneurs to manufacture value added biodegradable  Jute  Diversified  Products  (JDP)  as  well  as  for  modernization  and up-gradation of technology. A total amount of Rs. 22.24 crores was disbursed to the jute mills during the years 2015-16 and 2016-17 for modernizing the machinery.
- iii. Jute Integrated Development Scheme (JIDS): A new scheme was launched in 2016 for  improving  capacity  building  of  small  and  tiny  JDP  units  through  training  and production support, raw material and marketing support to promote and propagate jute diversification across the country. Market facilitation to the Jute Diversified Products (JDP) units, SHGs, WSHGs, NGOs, and other such agencies will also be one of the areas  of  focused  activities  of  the  Board.    The  JIDSs  have  helped  in  creating  and sustaining the production units thereby generating employment to people in the rural areas through entrepreneurship development and the setting up of Self Help Groups, particularly Women Self Help Groups (WHSGs). At present, 43 JIDS centres are in operation  in  different  parts  of  the  country  out  of  which  18  were  operationalized  in 2016-17.
- iv. Jute Raw Material Bank (JRMB) Scheme: This scheme is aimed at accelerating the pace  of  JDP  activities  in  the  country  and  focus  exclusively  to  cater  to  the  jute unorganised sector and production units so that jute raw material is supplied to them regularly. As  on  March,  2018,  20  JRMBs  are  operational  in  different  parts  of  the country. An amount of Rs. 14.87 lakhs was disbursed to 9 JRMBs under the scheme in the year 2016-17.
- v. Export Market Development Assistance Scheme : 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.  During  the  years  2015-16  and  2016-17, financial  support  amounting  to  Rs.  734.60  lakhs  to  136  exporters/entrepreneurs  has been provided under this scheme.
- vi. Workers'  Welfare  Scheme  (Sulabh  Sauchalaya ):  Under  this  scheme,  26  Toilet Blocks  were  constructed  in  26  Jute  Mills  during  the  year  2015-16  and  2016-17  by releasing grant amounting to of 5.25 crores.
- vii. Incentives  to  Successful  Students  of  Jute  Mill: Scholarships  worth  Rs.  593  lakhs were given to a total of 7,593 girl children of Jute Mill workers for being successful in secondary and higher secondary examinations during the year 2015-16 and 2016-17.

As on date, 75 jute mills are functioning in the country to produce jute sacking and other products to meet the requirement of the domestic and international markets. National Jute  Manufactures  Corporation  (NJMC)  is  among  the  Central  Public  Sector  Enterprises identified for closure by the NITI Aayog.

Jute  Corporation  of  India  (JCI)  is  playing  a  key  role  in  supporting  the  jute  sector, particularly, the jute farmers. Whenever the market price of raw jute falls below a certain level, the JCI procures raw jute at Minimum Support Price (MSP), fixed on the basis of recommendation of the  commission  for  Agricultural  Cost  and  Prices  (CACP)  from  jute growers to safeguard their interest. During the years 2015-16 and 2016-17 a total quantity of  4.13  lakh  quintals  of  raw  jute  was  procured  by  JCI  under  MSP  and  Commercial operations.

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