Mamata promises action plan for jute industry

The West Bengal government will formulate an action plan and comprehensive policy for the jute industry, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Wednesday, accusing the xcentral government of neglecting jute cultivators.

Addressing a rally in Raiganj in North Dinajpur district - a Congress bastion, Banerjee also announced a Group of Ministers would be set up to initiate steps to revive the spinning industry in the state.

Banerjee blamed the central government as well as the Left government in the state for neglecting jute cultivators, the most important industry of the region.

"Jute is the most important industry of north Bengal, but nobody is bothered to think about the jute cultivators who traditionally have been the subject of government apathy. So, we have decided to take a special action plan and formulate a comprehensive policy for the jute industry," said Banerjee.

A day after unfolding a slew of developmental schemes in the neighbouring Malda district, Banerjee here too announced sops for the district as she blamed the Congress-led central government for price rise of essential commodities, including of fertilizers, as well as the overall "underdevelopment" of the district.

"I am sorry the district has remained less developed. Fault is with those who are at helm in the district. The national highways are a in poor condition and the responsibility is with the centre," she said.

"Unless you venture out, you cannot know the ground realities. Only lip service doesn't pay, you need to know to work," said Banerjee.

Observing that there were efforts to close down spinning mills in the region, Banerjee said her government will set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to revive the spinning mills as well as rehabilitate the employees of closed mills.