Jute production in the country is good as a price higher than MSP for jute is available to the farmers, said Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, the Union Minister of State (I/C) for Textiles, in Kolkata today. He was addressing the gathering at Rabindra Teertha, New Town, Kolkata after unveiling the foundation stone of Patsan Bhawan - the proposed unified complex for housing all four HQ offices of the jute sector, namely, Jute Corporation of India, National Jute Manufacturers Corporation, National Jute Board and Office of the Jute Commissioner. Mentioning that jute products worth Rs. 11 crore were exported last year, the Minister said that the export would go up, both in terms of volume and worth; he therefore urged the jute-growing states to find out ways and means to utilize the prospect of the golden fibre to the fullest.
The Minister also launched the Common Facility Centre Scheme for promotion of diversified jute products. Five Common Facility Centres (CFCs) will be set up under Phase-I of the scheme - three in West Bengal and one each in Assam and Bihar. The CFCs are proposed to be set up at Phulia, Deganga and Magra in West Bengal, Barpeta in Assam and Katihar in Bihar. Shri Gangwar assured that more such CFCs will be set up in the country, if required, for promotion of diversified jute products. Gangwar released a number of books and booklets in this connection to highlight the prospect of jute not only for apparels and as an item of daily use, but also for technical textiles such as geotextiles, bandage material etc. He mentioned that research on the use of jute in this field has already shown promising signs, highlighting the successful initiative by IIT Kanpur to develop a jute-based sanitary napkin.The Minister also inaugurated an exhibition of diversified jute items which included jute bags, sandals, folders, jute carpet, hammocks, apparels and many other decorative items. Dr. Sanjay Panda, Secretary (Textiles) in his address, mentioned that the proposed nine-floor building of Patsan Bhawan at a cost of Rs. 70 crore will be built as a green building, to be completed within two years by the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC).