CLOSE LOOK: Union Minister of State for Textiles E.V. K. S. Elangovan at the Jute Fair in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo: K. V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Union Minister of State for Textiles E.V.K.S.Elangovan on Tuesday hoped that jute goods export would touch Rs. 5,000 crore by 2010, as projected by the National Jute Policy a couple of years ago.

After inaugurating a week-long jute fair here, he told reporters that jute products largely produced by artisans, weavers and converters all over the country constituted 22 per cent of the total jute goods export.

Exports in the sector during 2005-2006 was to the tune of Rs.1,186 crore.

The fresh impetus given to the industry by the National Common Minimum Programme would benefit 2.66 lakh workers directly employed by the jute industry and four million farmer families.

Modernisation efforts

Efforts made by the Centre to modernise the industry through the Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) and the Jute Manufacturers Development Council had evoked encouraging response from entrepreneurs. The Government had approved the Jute Technology Mission with an outlay of Rs.355.55 crore.

Its initiatives would help transform the sector into a vibrant and dynamic one that could face the challenges in the international arena.

Of late, a lot of diversification activities were taking place from West Bengal to other States, more particularly handloom concentrated areas in Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Mr. Elangovan said the Jute Fair, with 35 stalls comprising an exhibition-cum-sale of jute lifestyle products, was being organised by the Jute Manufacturers Development Council.

Three stalls belonged to women self-help groups and three to non-governmental outfits. An exporter and a jute mill had put up one stall each.

Efforts should be made to hold more such exhibitions at different locations to educate the people on the use of eco-friendly products, he said.

Replying to a query, he said export of textile goods would touch $10 billion by 2010. The Government would favourably consider the demand for extending the TUF scheme for the benefit of the textile industry.

Dyeing units

He hoped that the problem relating to the discharge of effluents by Tirupur's dyeing units would be resolved amicably. Experts felt that a viable solution lay in releasing the treated effluent to sea through a pipeline.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government had set an example to other State Governments in extending cooperation to the Centre in implementing welfare schemes for the handloom weavers, Mr.Elangovan said. It had taken up the responsibility of remitting the weaver's share of Rs.200 towards the insurance premium under a scheme implemented by the Centre.

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