Lok Sabha Question No. 1056 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Jute Industry
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel, Sisir Kumar Adhikari, Rajan Baburao  Vichare

## JUTE INDUSTRY

## 1056. SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI): SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI: SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

(a)  whether the Government proposes to make jutepacking of all the foodgrains mandatory, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the textiles industry is likely to get a boost as a result thereof and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has any plan to address the issue of packing of foodgrains due to closure of jute Mills during the lockdown and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has launched Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) for textile and jute industries in the country and if so, the present status of the scheme since 2016 and support provided to weavers during the said period;

(e) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for revival, reform and restructuring of handloom sector and to support tiny handloom weavers during the said period, State/UT-wise;

(f) whether there is any scheme to provide the certified and high quality jute seeds to the farmers in the year 2021-22 and if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the details of increase in the production capacity of coveralls for the medical professionals treating COVID19 cases and the production thereof till date?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्रीमती स्मृतत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

## MINISTER OF TEXTILES

## (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): The existing Order under Jute Packaging Materials (JPM) Act, 1987 dated 20 th December, 2019 stipulates that 100% of Foodgrains and 20% sugar are required to be packed compulsorily in jute bags. This Order is valid upto 30 th September, 2020. As per stipulation of the Order, different state foodgrains procuring agencies including Food Corporation of India (FCI) purchase jute bags to the tune of around 30.0 lakh bales for packing foodgrains. The total purchase currently constitutes about 76.0% of the total production of jute goods and 96% of the total production of sacking by the jute mills.

(c): The shortfall in supply was met by granting relaxation for use of High-density polyethylene or polypropylene ( HDPE/PP)  bags  as  per  provisions  of JPM  Act,  1987.  The  Government  also permitted D/o Food and Public Distribution to use used jute bags during Covid-19 situation. In RMS 2020-21, relaxation to the tune of total 7.01 lakh bales were given for use of HDPE/PP bags.

(d): Government is implementing a credit linked Scheme called Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) for technology upgradation of the textile industry with one time capital subsidy for eligible machinery. Segments which have higher employment and export potential such as Garmenting and Technical Textiles  are  eligible  for  capital  subsidy  at  the  rate  of  15%  subject  to  cap  of  Rs.30  crore.  Segments  such  as weaving for brand new Shuttle-less Looms (including weaving preparatory and knitting), Processing, Jute, Silk and Handlooms  get subsidy at the rate of 10% subject to a cap of Rs. 20 crore.. Year-wise subsidy released to  the textile units in weaving and knitting Segment is provided in the table below:

Subsidy  released to  weaving and knitting segment under TUFS  (in Rs.crore)

| Year                      |   ATUFS |   RRTUFS |    MMS |   RTUFS |   MTUFS |   TOTAL |
|---------------------------|---------|----------|--------|---------|---------|---------|
| 2016-17                   |    0    |   141.6  |  69.26 |   54.18 |   29.77 |  294.81 |
| 2017-18                   |    0.35 |    81.19 | 258.54 |   44.54 |    8.38 |  393    |
| 2018-19                   |   10.84 |    16.49 | 108.7  |   13.82 |    0.17 |  150.02 |
| 2019-20                   |  102.27 |     0    |  39.04 |    0    |    0    |  141.31 |
| 2020-21(as on 14.09.2020) |   42.13 |     0.47 |   4.18 |    0    |    0    |   46.78 |
| Total                     |  155.59 |   239.75 | 479.72 |  112.54 |   38.32 | 1025.92 |

- *MMS- Margin Money Subsidy
- *RTUFS- Restructured Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme
- *MTUFS- Modified Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme
- (e) : The  Government  is  implementing  following  schemes  for  development  of  handlooms  and  welfare  of handloom  weavers  across  the  country,  and  the  efforts  through  the  schemes  involve  revival,  reform  and restructuring of the sector: -
- i. National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
- ii. Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)
- iii. Handloom Weavers' Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS)
- iv. Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)

Under the above schemes, financial assistance  is  provided  for  raw  materials,  purchase  of  looms  and accessories,  design  innovation,  product  diversification,  infrastructure  development,  skill  upgradation,  lighting units, marketing of handloom products and loan at concessional rates.

Funds  under  the  above  schemes  are  not  allocated/released  State-wise.  Funds  to  the  eligible  handloom agencies are released on the basis of viable proposals received and utilization of previous released funds.

- (f): Yes. The government has been implementing Improved Cultivation And Retting Exercise (Jute-ICARE) programme for jute agriculture. Among other scientific packages for jute cultivation, supply of certified  and  high  quality  jute  seeds  to  the  farmers  is  one  of  the  main  activities  under  the  Jute-ICARE programme.  The quantities of jute certified seeds (JRO-204 & JBO-2003H variety) supplied to farmers during 2015-16 to 2020-21 is given below:

| 2015-16   | 2016-17   | 2017-18   | 2018-19   | 2019-20   | 2020-21   | 2021-22 (Proposed)   |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------------|
| 64 MT.    | 160 MT.   | 500 MT.   | 755 MT.   | 535 MT.   | 610 MT.   | 900 MT.              |

Recently,  Jute  Corporation  of  India  (JCI)  has  signed  an  MOU  with  National  Seeds  Corporation  on 19 th August, 2020 for commercial distribution of certified jute seeds of quantity of 1000 MT for the crop year 2021-22.

- (g): Ministry of Textiles is working with M/o Health and Family Welfare for supply of PPE Body Coveralls and  N-95  Masks  required  for  use of  Health  professionals  in  Government  Hospitals. From  zero  indigenous manufacturers of PPE Coveralls in the country, over 1100 indigenous manufacturers have been developed with peak production of about 5 lakh PPE Coveralls per day in mid-May, 2020.