The Hindu Business Line : Draft policy on jute moots JMDC overhaul

THE draft comprehensive policy on jute has identified several loopholes in the existing manpower structure of Jute Manufactures Development Council (JMDC) and suggested a total overhauling of the organisation.

According to the draft policy, JMDC, which functions as the export promotion council of the jute industry, lacks professional and technical staff and there is "no scope for infusion of fresh blood".

The Council was created in 1983 by an Act of Parliament. It is under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Textiles. It is the national agency for the promotion of jute and jute products both within and outside the country.

The draft policy stated that since there was hardly any mechanism for training and development of existing manpower, the quality of the staff failed to meet the requirements of the organisation.

"An employee can be promoted only on retirement or death of another employee and at certain levels even this scope is absent. Most of the employees joined young and there is hardly any scope for promotion in their entire career," the draft policy has stated. As a result, the level of motivation is extremely low.

The present staff strength of JMDC is 40 and the draft policy acknowledges that the Council is "miserably understaffed". Its structure was "never planned or executed in a scientific manner".

Apart from the headquarters located in Kolkata, it has offices in Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad. Two of its overseas offices were closed down during 1992-93. The policy has suggested a number of measures for improving the functioning of the Council among which is the opening of offices in western and northern parts of the country. Upgradation of the Delhi office has been suggested.

The organisation should be redesignated and restructured. The marketing department should be strengthened and two new sectors - international and domestic - should be created headed by two separate directors.

"Finance and administration should be clubbed and considering the necessity for implementation of difference financial schemes, induction of some accounts professionals may be considered," the policy stated.

It has also been proposed that a new technical cell be created under a director.

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Draft policy on jute moots JMDC overhaul

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