Ministry of Textiles
The National Jute Board Act, 2008, established the National Jute Board (NJB) to promote the comprehensive development of the jute sector in India, encompassing cultivation, manufacturing, and marketing of jute and jute products. This Act replaced the Jute Manufactures Development Council Act, 1983, aiming to create a more focused and effective body to address the challenges and opportunities in the jute industry. The Act recognizes the importance of jute as a natural fiber and its contribution to rural livelihoods and the national economy. This Act falls under the Ministry of Textiles.
Enactment Date, Number of Chapters, Number of Sections:
The Act was enacted on February 12, 2009, and came into force on April 1, 2011. It consists of seven chapters and 26 sections.
Act Governed By:
The National Jute Board is governed by its Board members, which include representatives from various stakeholders, including government officials, jute farmers, jute workers, industry experts, and representatives of the organized and decentralized jute sectors. The Central Government has overarching control, with the power to issue directions, provide funding, and supersede the Board if necessary.
On Whom It Is Applicable:
The Act applies to all stakeholders in the jute sector, including jute growers, manufacturers, exporters, researchers, and other entities involved in the cultivation, processing, and marketing of jute and jute products.
Penalties/Punishments:
The Act doesn’t explicitly specify penalties. However, it empowers the Board to make regulations, and the Central Government to make rules, which may include provisions for penalties for non-compliance with the Act’s provisions or related regulations.
Important Pointers:
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Establishes the National Jute Board as a body corporate.
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Defines the Board’s functions, including research, market development, quality control, and welfare of jute growers and workers.
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Provides for the transfer of assets and liabilities of the former Jute Manufactures Development Council and the National Centre for Jute Diversification to the NJB.
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Empowers the Central Government to issue directions to the Board on policy matters.
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Allows the Central Government to supersede the Board under specific circumstances.
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Provides for the constitution of a Jute Board Fund and outlines its funding mechanisms, including grants and loans from the Central Government.
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Requires the Board to prepare an annual budget and report.
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Mandates the maintenance of accounts and their audit.