Jute packaging law

TO boost the domestic use of jute, the government has begun drives through mobile courts and motivational campaigns. It's indeed a commendable effort taken to ensure implementation of the jute packaging law passed in 2010. Jute – once our main cash crop-has long been neglected. Supreme Court's order reinstating government decision to pack rice with jute bags should be implemented vigorously.

The main excuse for not following the law passed four year ago is that it is more expensive than plastic bags. This, however, cannot be a tenable ground as products made of jute are not only environment-friendly, their demand is also growing in geometric proportions worldwide. And in any case wide scale use of jute will bring down the production cost automatically.

The lives of some 4 million farmers and 150,000 workers depend on producing and manufacturing of goods made of jute. The public and private jute mills together produce around 40-50 crore pieces of sacks a year against the capacity of 100 crore. So due to a low demand half of the capacity is wasted. If the current law is implemented, then the existing market will expand.

It's imperative that a strategy to revive our jute industry be worked out quickly. Till now a vast number of our jute workers – failing to secure good price -fall prey to middlemen. Since they are essential elements for the overall growth of the industry, we must ensure that they get a fair price and the required subsidies to carry the industry forward.