Government decides to set up committee on rubber sector

The government has decided to set up a committee to address concerns related to the rubber sector and to formulate a national policy on the commodity.
Rubber-consuming industries have expressed concern over decline in rubber productivity and availability of various forms of rubber in the country.
Rubber growers have also agitated on the issue of increased risk to production due to climatic factors and adverse price movements caused by imports.
"With a view to address the concerns expressed by various stakeholders in the Rubber Sector and to formulate a National Policy on Rubber, the government has decided to constitute an expert committee," a commerce ministry statement today said.

The committee will examine issues relating to production, development and exports of rubber and related products and make recommendations for a broad based policy relating to all types of rubber - natural rubber, synthetic rubber and reclaimed rubber.
The expert committee would have 23 members including a joint secretary from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Rubber Board chairman, representative of state government of Tripura and Kerala.

It will be chaired by Additional Secretary (Plantations) Department of Commerce.
"The expert committee will submit its report including the draft of the National Rubber Policy as early as possible, say, within six months," it added.

With rise in demand for rubber from the auto sector, the need for a national policy was felt as at present the concerns of the rubber sector are being handled by two-three departments under various ministries.
India, the world's fourth largest producer of natural rubber, is dependent on imports as domestic production is short of demand.
In 2012-13 fiscal, rubber production was 9,13,700 tonnes, lower than consumption of 9,72,705 tonnes.