Panel suggests 100% foodgrain packaging in jute bags
Kolkata, June 23 : The Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) has recommended that 100 per cent of foodgrain produced should be packaged in jute for the current year, allowing a dilution of up to 10 per cent at a time and 30 per cent in the year, if jute mills fail to supply the bags within the permissible 30 days, an official said on Saturday.
In its 26th meeting, the committee, which recommends jute packaging norms to the government, also suggested 20 per cent of sugar productions should be reserved for packing in jute bags.
Considering that jute is a biodegradable and eco-friendly fibre, the jute industry requires "sustenance till it diversifies and captures the domestic and global market on its own steam," the committee noted.
"In the recent SAC meeting, it recommended that 100 per cent of the foodgrains produced should be reserved for packing in jute. On receiving the entire requirement from procurement agencies for packaging of foodgrains in jute bags, if jute mills fail to supply bags within the permissible 30 days, the Department of Food and Public Distribution may allow dilution of packaging material upto 10 per cent at a time and upto 30 per cent in the whole year with the approval of Ministry of Textiles, the official said referring minutes of the meeting.
The SAC also recommended if the procurement agencies do not place indents as per the supply plan prepared by the Department of Food Public Distribution and if bunching of demand (indents) takes place, the procuring agency will not be entitled for dilution.
"The jute mills will get reasonable additional time for the supply of additional jute bags. However, if the mill fails to supply the bags in the extended period the provision of dilution will apply," the official said.
Nearly 3.7 lakhs workers and 40 lakhs farmers are dependent on the jute sector for their livelihood and based on the last four years' trends, as well as the targeted requirement to pack the quantity of food grains to be procured under the Food Procurement Programmea the demand is likely to be in the range of 28-30 lakhs bales during 2018-19, the official said.
The industry had demonstrated its capacity of producing 2.5 lakh bales of sacking per month for packing food grains.
Further, in terms of the projections of the Jute Advisory Board, 72 lakhs bales of raw jute are likely to be produced during the Jute Year (July-June) 2018-19.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
