Centre to pay jute mills only after full payment to farmers, labourers: Minister
Kolkata, Sep 29 : Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday said the Central government is making it mandatory that jute mills would get the entire payment for government orders only after jute farmers and labourers are paid fully.
"Jute industry has a ready order worth Rs 5,000-5,500 crore every year (in terms of sacking). The government gives such a huge order so that the jute industry stays alive. The huge money is given to the jute industry in terms of order so that the farmers and labourers can get benefit out of it," she said.
Farmers and labourers often complain that they do not get the benefit which they deserve, she said at an interactive session organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce here.
"The jute industry used to get payments against the order regularly. Why are the farmers and labourers complaining that? Now, we are making it mandatory, that if you do not pay farmers or labourers or abdicate the responsibility, we will not give you the order," Irani said.
"The Centre has made a special arrangement and another decision will come soon so that the industry would get the entire payment against the order from the government only after farmers and labourers get fully paid," she said, adding that the industry assured that they would take care of the rights of the jute farmers and labourers.
Jute diversification, according to her, is going to be the future as it will not expand the base of the sector but also provide impetus for the growth. Beside Jute is being used in roads extensively, particularly in north-eastern states as it provides durability.
The Minister said Indian Jute Industries' Research Association (IJIRA) developed a sanitary napkin based on jute products and other innovative products and the jute industry has to take the responsibility to take these innovations forward by commercial applications.
The Central government is focusing on how to transform small-size firms into mid-size entities, Irani said.
"China prospers because its small firms became mid-size companies... small and medium enterprises account for 80 per cent of the textile industry and a lot of craft-based industry goes unaccounted.
"For the growth to happen exponentially, we are pushing towards ensuring that the small-size firms become mid-size entities. It needs infrastructure push," she said.
Irani stressed upon innovation in terms of design that the textile industry needs.
In view of objections being raised by the US in the WTO on the incentives offered by India to its exporters even as the country's per capita GNP has crossed the threshold limit, Irani said, "We have to study the new regime in terms of WTO and there has to be a quantifiable impact analysis. The government is analysing every element of the impact of the WTO regime and post December, we take proactive steps to ensure that industries are supported."
Addressing the Annual General Meeting at the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce later in the day, she said the government has increased the import duty on some textile products to protect domestic manufacturing.
According to her, India looks at the trade war between China and the US as an opportunity and not as a challenge.
She said India would be benefited from the trade war not only through policy intervention but also through industry practices.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
