The Hindu Business Line : CITU demands scrapping of packaging order

THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has demanded immediate scrapping of the order of the Union Ministry of Textiles, issued on April 16, which permitted 40 per cent usage of synthetic bags for packing food grains.

The recent order diluted the previous norms of maintaining 100 per cent use of jute bags for food grains. The CITU maintained that the order ignored the WHO guidelines and also gave a short shrift to the jute industry.

The CITU General Secretary, Mr Chittabrata Mazumdar, also decried the Centre's directive for packing sugar in synthetic bags. The recent order has allowed sugar units to pack up to 50 per cent of the procured quantity for Government purchases instead of just 10 per cent earlier.

The reduction in the use of jute bags affected the livelihood of 40 lakh growers and 2.5 lakh workers in the jute industry, Mr Mazumdar pointed out.

CITU also questioned the way in which the order was issued. ``The order had been issued hastily without giving a chance to the Indian Jute Mills Association making a representation on the subject,'' he added.

The standing advisory committee on the issue was scheduled to meet on May 5 and discuss the issue , as has been the practice all along since the Supreme Court had issued an order on this matter in 1992. The CITU said the Ministry's order violated the model code of conduct for elections.

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