Compulsory jute packaging for foodgrains, sugar: Govt
New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday extended the mandatory packaging of foodgrains and sugar products in jute bags for the year ending June 2018. “This decision mandating 90 per cent of food grains and 20 per cent sugar products to be packed in jute bags will benefit nearly 3.7 lakh workers and 40 lakh farmers,” Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani tweeted.
She said the Jute mill workers will not be deprived of their statutory dues as a special mechanism will be set up in consultation with state governments to link production control and supply order to ensure timely payment. “Underlining the importance of diversification of jute industry, emphasis will be given to diversification by incentivising use of jute geo-textiles and promoting jute as eco-friendly fibre both in domestic and global markets,” Irani said in a tweet.
The decision will help sustain the core demand for the jute sector and support the livelihood of the workers and farmers dependent on
the sector in eastern and north-eastern regions of the country particularly in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura.
“The CCEA has extended the mandatory packaging norms under the Jute Packaging Material (JPM) Act, 1987,” an official statement said. As per the norms, it is compulsory to pack 90 per cent of foodgrains and 20 per cent of sugar products in jute bags.
The decision also mandates, in the first instance, the entire requirement for packing of foodgrains would be placed in jute bags thus, making a provision for 100 per cent packing of foodgrains in jute bags subject to the ability of the jute industry to meet the requirement, the statement added.
Jute industry is predominantly dependent on government, which purchases jute products worth more than Rs 5,500 crore every year. Considering nearly 3.7 lakh workers and approximately 40 lakh farmers are dependent for their livelihood on the jute sector, the government said it has been making concerted efforts for the development of the jute sector.
With a view to boost demand in the jute sector, government has imposed Definitive Anti Dumping Duty on import of jute goods from Bangladesh and Nepal with effect from January 5, 2017, which has provided scope for additional demand of 2 lakh MT of jute goods in the domestic market.
Cabinet apprised of India-Italy pact on clean energy
New Delhi: The Cabinet was on Wednesday apprised of a pact between India and Italy for cooperation in the field of renewable energy. “The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on India-Italy Cooperation in Renewable Energy,” an official statement said.
The MoU was signed on October 30, 2017 at New Delhi by Anand Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Lorenzo Angeloni, Italian Ambassador to India. India and Italy aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy issues. The MoU envisages establishing a Joint Working Committee to review, monitor and discuss matters relation to areas of cooperation. It aims for exchange of expertise and networking of information and helps in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries, the statement added.
Ex-post facto approval to India's stand at WTO
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its ex-post facto approval to the stand adopted by India at the recently concluded ministerial meeting held in Argentina in December last year.
The mandate exercised and approach adopted at the ministerial conference, the highest decision making body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), was aimed at protecting the country's interests, priorities, and concerns, the government said in a tweet. "Cabinet gives ex-post facto approval to the approach by India at the 11th ministerial conference of the WTO,” it added. Bringing disappointment to developing countries like India, the talks at the WTO's 11th ministerial conference in Argentina collapsed on December 14 last year. It was collapsed as the US went back on its commitment to find a permanent solution to the public food stockholding issue.
Nod to India, UK pact to improve public transport
NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and London's transportation authority to improve public transport in the country. The MoU is aimed at improving the overall public transport system, improve passenger services and promote the use of high capacity buses in India.
“The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing and implementation of the MoU between Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and ‘Transport for London’, a statutory body established under the Greater London Authority Act, 1999 (UK) to improve public transport in India,” an official statement said.
It will go a long way in strengthening ties and promoting bilateral relations between India and the United Kingdom, the statement by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said. It said the MoU will help in strengthening the integrated public transport for all. This will help people from poorer strata of the society to have access to a quality public transport system, it added.