Jute Corp, Unions Unite On Common Issues

In a bid to address common survival issues, the officers' body of the Jute Corporation of India (JCI) has teamed up with its unions affiliated with the Indian National Trade Union Congress and the Centre for Indian Trade Unions. The body will be known as -- JCI joint staff and officers' forum.

The priority issue on the forum's agenda is to stall the closure of 43 jute-purchasing centres, proposed by the Union government, across the country. JCI, currently operates 208 centres in the country.

The body has also mooted that JCI should be allowed to undertake procurement under commercial operation to minimise the burden on the exchequer as well as bring operational profits.

Basudev Saha, president, JCI joint staff and officers' forum, said the basic objective of the forum is to pursue a single-point programme of survival of the corporation and other common issues.

The forum has also met West Bengal chief minister, Jyoti Basu, on the issue of stalling the closure of the jute purchasing centres. The stand-off between the employees and the management has resulted in an indefinite postponement of any final decision in the matter.

According to Saha, with inadequate infrastructure, JCI is able to mop up about 12 per cent of the total production of the industry. This would, however, be seriously hampered in the event of the proposed closing down of the 43 centres. In 1997-98, the corporation had intervened in a distress-sale situation and had procured 18 lakh quintal from the market.

Considering that in the future there could be shortage of raw jute, JCI has started procurement under commercial operations, targeting more than two lakh quintal.

"If we can procure large quantities of jute this year, JCI would be able to supply the industry with enough raw material and keep prices under control," Saha said.