The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the extension of norms for mandatory packaging in jute materials on Thursday.
The CCEA approved that 100 per cent of the food grains and 20 per cent of the sugar shall be packed in diversified jute bags. Initially, 10 per cent of the indents of jute bags for packing food grains would be placed through reverse auction on the Government e-Market (GeM) portal. This will gradually usher in a regime of price discovery, according to an official statement.
This will have a huge impact on the jute industry, which has over 3.7 lakh workers, that is dependent on the government sector. The government purchases close to ₹6,500 crore every year for packaging foodgrains.
The decision to pack sugar in diversified jute bags will give an impetus to the diversification of the jute industry and will benefit farmers and workers located in the eastern and north-eastern regions particularly in West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura, the statement said.
The CCEA also approved the implementation of the umbrella scheme ‘Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services’ (ACROSS) at an estimated cost of ₹ 1,450 crore between 2017-2020. It will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through four institutes including India Meteorological Department.
Establishment of National Facility for Airborne Research with a financial commitment of ₹ 130 crore during 2020-21 and beyond, was also approved by the CCEA. The scheme is expected to provide improved weather, climate and ocean forecast and services, which will benefit other services such as public weather service, disaster management and climate services.
It is also expected to generate employment in terms of scientific and technical staff and agencies such as the Krishi Vigyana Kendras of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Universities and local municipalities are roped in.