Title: Appealed to the Government to reconsider the decision of diluting the mandatory movement regarding the use of jute packaging and should continue the mandatory Jute packing Act, 1987.
SHRI RUPCHAND PAL : Recently the Union Cabinet has diluted the mandatory movement with regard to the use of jute one hundred per cent, in respect of foodgrains and sugar and also 20 per cent in respect of urea. This will seriously affect the jute industry, lakhs of jute growers and also all those engaged in the jute trade.
We had already met the Prime Minister and requested him to reconsider the decision because the inter-ministerial group has already recommended that such dilution should not be made in the case of foodgrains, one hundred per cent mandatory packaging should be there in the case of sugar also one hundred per cent packaging and 20 per cent in respect of urea. Unfortunately, I cannot but mention that long before the decision was taken by the Union Cabinet some very important petro-chemical industrial house had in its annual general report and in a federation meeting said that the Government was going to dilute the position with regard to mandatory use of jute. This is most unfortunate. Still there is scope now. The Prime Minister has been requested about it. Not less than one crore of people are involved, not only in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Assam but also in Andhra Pradesh. We have appealed to the Government and through this House we again appeal to the Government. This will be disastrous to the Eastern part of the country, the jute industry and the jute growers.
At a time when the whole world is taking interest in the eco-friendly golden fibre the Government should not take such a disastrous decision. They should continue the mandatory Jute Packaging Act, 1987 and ensure the use of jute.