Jute industry opposes move to auction bags on Govt e-Market Place portal

The jute industry has launched a murmur of protest against the Textiles ministry’s proposal to initiate procurement of jute bags through competitive bids on the Government e-Market Place (GeM) portal.

The textiles ministry has been toying with the idea after a recent meeting of stakeholders where the possibility to source jute bags through auctions was discussed. The idea was initially floated by the Union commerce ministry.

Though the plan to put jute bags to auctions is still at an incipient stage, the industry is sulking. Voicing its reservations, the jute industry said procurement of jute bags through competitive auctions is fraught with