Ministry of Textiles - NATIONAL JUTE POLICY 2005

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National Jute Policy 2005

SECTORAL INITIATIVES

G. Institutional Restructuring and establishment of a Jute Board

To rectify the systemic ills of lack of coordination among the several jute related organizations under different Ministries and Departments of the Government, and to synchronise and synergise the integrated development of the jute sector as a whole, the proposal to set up a National Jute Board will be implemented. This is necessary to synthesize the various layers of Governmental decision-making in a federal set up. This body will subsume, merge, and integrate the functions of various institutions currently operating in the jute sector. The mandate of the proposed Jute Board will be as follows:

i) To restructure the present regulatory framework so as to provide adequate incentive to all stakeholders in the jute sector to produce goods and services in an efficient manner so as to maximize socio-economic benefits.

ii) To subsume and revamp the Office of the Jute Commissioner and transform it from an office of regulation to a facilitator of development in the jute sector.

iii) To establish a Jute R&D fund and Venture capital assistance fund for the development of efficient jute manufacturing machinery, and the commercialization of new products;

iv) To strengthen and facilitate the growth of HRD institutions like the Institute of Jute Technology (IJT) on innovative lines.

v) To review and revitalise the working of the R& D institutions like the Indian Jute Industries Research Association (IJIRA) to focus research on industry needs.

vi) To subsume, merge and professionalise field organisations like Jute Manufacture Development Council (JMDC) and the National Centre for Jute Diversification (NCJD) under the Ministry of Textiles to enable them to play their assigned role of facilitators of change and growth effectively.

vii) To explore the possibility of establishing a National Institute of Natural Fibres with the objective of harmonizing developmental and promotional activities pertaining to all natural fibres and to have a better sharing of experience and knowledge in related fibres

viii) To establish a National Jute and Jute Textile Museum in India to preserve and highlight the heritage of jute.

Subsidiary institutions functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture under Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE/ICAR) like the National Institute for Research on Jute and Allied Fibre Technology (NIRJAFT), and the Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF) will be integrated with the Jute Board in a meaningful relationship, as also the functions and issues presently being administrated by the Ministry of Agriculture.

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National Jute Policy 2005

SECTORAL INITIATIVES

H. Jute Technology Mission

A Jute Technology Mission, which has been approved in principle by the Planning Commission, will be operationalised with the appropriate sub-structure of mini-missions. The objective is to consolidate the gains from past efforts in the jute sector, and help it to emerge as an intrinsically competitive and integrated entity. The Jute Technology Mission will encompass the sub-systems pertaining to agricultural research and seed development, agronomic practices, harvest and post harvest techniques, the primary and secondary processing of raw jute, diversified product development, market development, and marketing and distribution.

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National Jute Policy 2005

SECTORAL INITIATIVES

I. Human Resource Development and Labour Welfare

With the rise of inescapable competition facing the Indian jute sector, both in the international and domestic markets, it will be the endeavour of the Government to facilitate upgrading the skills of both workers, and supervisors and managerial staff who are employed in the jute industry. The Government will support programmes of organisations and institutions engaged in HRD that address the professional manpower needs of the industry, as well as at the cutting edge level of workers and shop-floor supervisors. Institutions will be encouraged to network and pool their resources and co-operate amongst themselves. IT will become an integral part of the HRD effort recognizing its vital role in a progressively IT driven global economic environment.

In recognition of the pioneering role of IJT, this institution will be assisted to grow and progress as an autonomous institution on innovative lines. It will be developed as an International Centre for Education in Natural fibres.

The Government will ensure that statutory dues of the workers engaged in jute mills are paid in time. The working conditions and emoluments of workers should improve so that the quality of life of such workers is enhanced. The Government will ensure that there is no exploitation of labour.

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National Jute Policy 2005

SECTORAL INITIATIVES

J. Delivery Mechanisms for Implementation of the Policy

The organisations working under the Ministry of Textiles will be reoriented, right sized, and restructured, to act as facilitators instead of regulatory bodies, with the mandate and role of each being reviewed and redefined over the next two years. Simultaneously, regulations and controls will be reviewed and progressively reduced. Some of the specific changes will be the establishment of the Jute Board, structured to serve the developmental needs of the industry and restructuring of the operational arms in charge of exports and diversification to enable them to devise dynamic strategies for the export markets.

In conclusion, the Government is committed to providing a conducive environment to enable the Indian jute and jute textile sector to realize its full potential, to achieve global excellence, and to fulfill its obligations to the different sections of society. In the fulfillment of these objectives, the Government will enlist the co-operation and involvement of all stakeholders and ensure an effective and responsive delivery system.