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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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
