The textile Ministry has launched the Common Facility Centre (CFC) Scheme for promotion of diversified jute products. Five Common Facility Centres (CFCs) will be set up with a support of up to Rs10 crore from the National Jute Board under Phase-I of the scheme - three in West Bengal and one each in Assam and Bihar.

The CFCs are proposed to be set up at Phulia, Deganga and Magra in West Bengal, Barpeta in Assam and Katihar in Bihar.

The CFCs will support diversified jute product clusters operated by women self-help groups at the block level by supporting them with design, training, raw material and infrastructure.

Textile secretary Sanjay Kumar Panda said that most of the raw jute produced in the country was being used to make sacks to pack foodgrains. There is a need to move beyond jute sacks and consider the production of diversified products for furnishing, packaging and construction.

Union textile minister Santosh Gangwar, who launched the scheme, said the sector provided livelihood to more than 40 lakh families. Gangwar said that jute products worth Rs 11 crore were exported last year, and underlined that the export would go up, both in terms of volume and worth. He urged the jute-growing states to find out ways and means to utilize the golden fibre to the fullest.

Gangwar assured that more such CFCs will be set up in the country, if required, for promotion of diversified jute products.