Kolkata: All 18 closed jute mills across the Barrackpore industrial belt are expected to reopen this month amid Bengal govt’s efforts to revive the state’s jute industry.Six mills in Jagaddal, Kankinara, Bhatpara and Titagarh have already resumed operations. Three more — Baranagar Jute Mill, Jagaddal Jute Industries and EMCO Jute Mill — are set to follow after their managements issue formal reopening notices on Thursday, with production expected to resume within two to three days. The three mills are expected to return around 7,500 workers to employment.Naihati Jute Mill is to restart from July 3, following a tripartite meeting chaired by labour minister Arjun Singh and minister of state for labour Bhaskar Bhattacharya. Alliance Jute Mill at Jagaddal has already resumed production, while Kankinara Jute Mill reopened on Wednesday.“We are hopeful that all 18 closed jute mills will reopen by July 10. The initiative is not limited to the Barrackpore industrial belt alone — efforts have been undertaken to reopen all closed jute mills across Bengal at the earliest,” Singh told TOI.He said discussions were also held on Wednesday on reopening Howrah Jute Mill and Bharat Jute Mill at Dashnagar in Howrah.Singh said the labour department was convening meetings with the jute commissioner, provident fund authorities, employees’ state insurance officials and factory inspectors to resolve all pending issues simultaneously.He called for a balance of responsibilities between workers and management. “Workers must not only seek benefits but also work with commitment. At the same time, management cannot evade its responsibilities after extracting work from employees. A balance has to be maintained among the unions, the management and the workers,” he said.
