The Hindu Business Line : National Jute Board: Centre giving final touches to framework

THE Union Textiles Ministry is giving final touches to the guidelines and framework of the National Jute Board, which was proposed in the National Jute Policy announced in April last year.

Ministry sources said it had been decided that two organisations - Jute Manufactures Development Council (JMDC) and National Centre for Jute Diversification (NCJD) - would be merged into the National Jute Board.

All the existing funds and functions of these organisations, currently under the Union Textile Ministry, would go over to the proposed board.

The new board would have statutory powers, and accordingly, a Bill has been proposed, which would be placed before Parliament for approval by members of both Houses.

It was also considered whether the three existing research institutions, which come under the Union Agricultural Ministry, could be merged into the jute board. Senior government officials have discussed the matter, but a final decision has not been taken yet.

However, it was decided that the proposed board would not have regulatory powers such as the Jute Commissioner's Office. Officials even suggested that there should be a clear policy framework on the future relationship between the jute board and the jute commissioner's office.

Government officials would also consider whether the two research and educational bodies - Institute of Jute Technology (IJT) and Indian Jute Industries Research Association (IJIRA) - would come under the jurisdiction of the board.

"The relationship between the board and all these organisations should be clearly brought out in the draft Cabinet note", sources said. It is, however, pointed out that the proposed jute board may be over-staffed if all the existing employees of JMDC and NCJD are taken into it.

At present, the staff strength of these two bodies is 42 and 17 respectively.

"There is a need for rationalisation of the staff structure. Innovation is needed for making the new organisation more vibrant and dynamic. Therefore, provisions in the proposed Act for the purpose should be made with regard to staff rationalisation," sources said.

It is felt in the discussions that the board would take up a leadership position and should be the nodal agency for the implementation of `mini missions' mentioned in the Jute Technology Mission.

"The board has to step into commercial and regulatory functions, and should be a promotional body, with bulk of its activities being carried out in the outsourcing mode," sources added.