Politics makes govt eco-friendly
Bowing to the relentless pressure from its main prop, is likely to make it mandatory for the government agencies to use jute products for packaging and other purposes.
By Devesh Kumar, TNN |
NEW DELHI: Sustained lobbying by the West Bengal Left Front MPs seems to have paid off! The Manmohan Singh regime, bowing to the relentless pressure from its main prop, is likely to make it mandatory for the government agencies to use jute products for packaging and other purposes.
The CCEA, at its meeting being held on Thursday, is likely to take up a textile ministry sponsored proposal leaving government agencies with no option but to use jute products. The move is aimed at boosting the jute industry, which forms one of the mainstays of the West Bengal economy.
Ever since the Congress-led UPA came to power in May, 2004, the Left contingent from West Bengal had launched a campaign for giving an impetus to the jute industry, which had been going through a rough patch because of a host of factors, including growing competition from the synthetic sector, high labour cost, obsolescence of machinery and uneconomic working. A combination of these factors led to a high sickness rate in the industry.
As part of their campaign, the Left MPs met almost all the important UPA players, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his cabinet colleagues such as P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.
In the past few decades, the jute industry had come under tremendous pressure from the synthetic sector, as their products, made of plastic and other material, were not only seen as being cheaper but also safer.
The jute industry was accorded the status of a priority sector by the national common minimum programme drafted by the UPA while assuming power at the Centre. A National Jute Policy was announced in April, 2005, with the main objective of achieving a compounded annual growth rate of 15% per annum, improving the quality of jute fibre, ensuring proper remunerative prices for jute fibre and enhancing the yield.
Jute is one of the major industries in the eastern region, particularly in West Bengal. Globally, India is the largest producer and the second-largest exporter of jute goods. It provides livelihood to some 40 lakh families.
The CCEA, at its meeting being held on Thursday, is likely to take up a textile ministry sponsored proposal leaving government agencies with no option but to use jute products. The move is aimed at boosting the jute industry, which forms one of the mainstays of the West Bengal economy.
Ever since the Congress-led UPA came to power in May, 2004, the Left contingent from West Bengal had launched a campaign for giving an impetus to the jute industry, which had been going through a rough patch because of a host of factors, including growing competition from the synthetic sector, high labour cost, obsolescence of machinery and uneconomic working. A combination of these factors led to a high sickness rate in the industry.
As part of their campaign, the Left MPs met almost all the important UPA players, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his cabinet colleagues such as P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.
In the past few decades, the jute industry had come under tremendous pressure from the synthetic sector, as their products, made of plastic and other material, were not only seen as being cheaper but also safer.
The jute industry was accorded the status of a priority sector by the national common minimum programme drafted by the UPA while assuming power at the Centre. A National Jute Policy was announced in April, 2005, with the main objective of achieving a compounded annual growth rate of 15% per annum, improving the quality of jute fibre, ensuring proper remunerative prices for jute fibre and enhancing the yield.
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As part of this policy, the National Jute Technology Mission was unveiled on February 6, 2005, at a cost of Rs 355.55 crore. In keeping with this exercise, the government now wants to continue with the ongoing policy of earmarking grain and sugar for being packed in material made from jute, while at the same time extending it to other areas.Jute is one of the major industries in the eastern region, particularly in West Bengal. Globally, India is the largest producer and the second-largest exporter of jute goods. It provides livelihood to some 40 lakh families.
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