West Bengal govt to form committee for jute sector: Kajaria

The West Bengal government has decided to form a committee consisting of three senior ministers to look into the problems of the jute sector in the state, according to jute industry veteran Sanjay Kajaria.

"State Labour Minister Purnendu Bose informed us that a three-member committee will be formed comprising himself, Amit Mitra, finance and industry minister, and education minister Partha Chatterjee," said Kajaria, who is also a former chairman of Indian Jute Mills Association.

Kajaria had attended the meeting between the Labour Minister and the jute mills owners.

He said the Committee would take a comprehensive view of the sector, from sowing to production to market in a holistic manner.

Bose was unavailable for a comment.

Kajaria said the committee was likely to formulate a draft jute policy for its revival where at least 2.5 lakh workers' fate is involved.

Kajaria said the minister had also requested the industry to formulate an acceptable new wage agreement despite the fact that there was recluctance among mill owners to agree to it due to poor order book.

There had been indications from the minister that if mill owners did not cooperate on the new wage agreement, the state government might unilaterally come out with a minimum wage policy for the sector, he said.

"The minister had urged that unless the industry is united along with the labour it would be difficult for the state government to build a case for the sector at the Centre," Kajaria said.