The Indian government has introduced a certification of authority for jute products with the launch of the Jute Mark India logo.
- Jute Mark India will provide a collective identity and assurance on origin and quality for traditional jute and jute-diversified products.
- So far, 55 vendors have registered for availing the Jute Mark India logo. The Union Minister of State for Textiles, Darshana Jardosh, said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha (Upper House of Parliament).
- India is a leading jute goods producing country, accounting for about 70% of the estimated global production. The average domestic consumption out of total production is around 90%.
New scheme for sector: The government has also approved an umbrella scheme—the National Jute Development Programme (NJDP)—with a total outlay of ₹4855.8 million for implementation from 2021–22 to 2025–26 for the overall development and promotion of the jute sector.
The NJDP will cover the following schemes:
- Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise (Jute ICARE): To introduce package of scientific methods of jute cultivation and retting exercises for improving fibre quality and productivity and reducing the cost of jute production and increasing farmers’ income.
- Jute Resource cum Production Centre (JRCPC): To spread the jute diversification programme by providing training to new artisans and WSHGs for sustained employment for production of Jute Diversified Products (JDPs).
- Jute Raw Material Bank (JRMB): To supply jute raw material to jute artisans, MSMEs for production of JDPs at the mill gate price.
- Jute Retail Outlets (JRO) Scheme: To facilitate existing and new artisans / entrepreneurs for promotion and sale of JDPs through retail outlets / showrooms.
- Jute Design Resource Centre (JDRC): For designing and development of marketworthy innovative jute diversified products and helping existing and new JDP manufacturers and exporters.
- Product Diversification (R&D) Studies: To explore research & development in textile and non textile applications.
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: To support jute mills and MSME JDP units for manufacturing and exporting JDPs and making them cost competitive in the international markets.
- Capital Subsidy for Acquisition of Plant & Machinery (CSAPM): For manufacturing (JDPs) and to facilitate modernisation / upgradation of the existing jute mills and MSME JDP units.
- Market Development Promotion activities (Domestic & Exports): To support the JDP units for promotion and sale of JDPs, in the domestic market and to registered jute exporters to boost export of jute goods; development of Jute Mark logo for certification of quality jute diversified products and launching publicity campaign to popularise jute.
- Scholarship Scheme for the female children of the workers of jute mills, JDP- MSMEs: To support girl children of the workers of jute mills / MSME JDP units in the form of incentives.