Jute Mills in West Bengal

This article is on Jute industry in West Bengal.  In this article you will find the past and present of Jute industry in West Bengal.

Jute is cultivated in India, mainly in West Bengal for centuries. East India Company found the potential of Jute Industry in West Bengal and in 1854, first Jute Mill was established in Rishra of Hooghly district. Gradually number of new Jute Mills started increasing. During the first half of the 20th century Jute was one of the major industry in West Bengal. At that time Jute was known as golden fibre in West Bengal. The word ‘golden’ was associated with Jute not only for it’s golden colour, at that time job in jute industry was very lucrative. During that period, salary in jute mills were very attractive and other benefits like furnished quarters for staffs, other benefits were much better than other industries. Number of jute mills in Bengal was nearly 101 but after that the number started decreasing gradually. Today, jute industry has lost its glamour. Jute industry is now considered as dead industry with no future.

The reasons behind the present poor condition of Jute industry

There are many reasons behind the present poor condition of jute industries in the state.situation Invention of plastic is a major blow to jute industry.

Lack of modernisation plans in jute industry in West Bengal is one of the major cause of the present situation of jute industries. Jute mills are still using machineries of back dated technology. Actually the machineries left by the Europeans are still working in Mills. In Textile industry, an weaver has to run more than 20 looms (Weaving machine) whereas in jute mills an weaver has to manage only 2 looms. The jute mill looms are of so backdated technology that one weaver can not control more than 2 looms.

Research and Development departments failed to utilise jute in other fields also apart from packaging material only.

 Most of the Jute mill owners in West Bengal are not industrialists in true sense.

Frustrating attitude of state government and trade unions towards jute mills are also  responsible for the poor condition of jute mills in West Bengal.

Some of the Jute Mills in West Bengal

Agarpara Jute Mills

"Banerjee Bhavan"                               

15,Brabourne Road, (5 Floor)  

  Calcutta-700001

Alliance Mills Ltd.

18, Netaji  Subhas Road 

Calcutta~700001            

Anglo-India Jute Mills Co. Ltd

18, Netaji Subhas Road

(North)                                                      

Calcutta~700001                                                               

Ph.No.2205811/2

Angus Jute Works

9, India Exch. Place(3rd Floor) 

Calcutta- 700001

Auckland International Ltd.

6, Little Russel Street

Calcutta- 700071

The Baranagore Jute Factory

284,Maharaja Nanda Kumar Road(N)

Alambazar, Calcutta- 700035

Bally Jute Mills

3 Haren Mukherjee Road, Belur Math

Howrah-711202

Soorah Jute Mills

Birla Building

9/1 R.N.Mukherjee Road

Calcutta-1

Budge Budge Company Ltd.

16a, Brabourne Road, 9th Floor

Calcutta-1

Dalhousie Jute Company

27, R.N.Mukherjee Road

Calcutta- 700001

Delta Industries Ltd.

4, Council House Street

Calcutta- 700001

The Empire Jute Co. Ltd

21A, Shakespeare Sarani(3rd Floor)

Calcutta- 700071

The Ganges Mfg.Co.Ltd.

Chatterjee International Center

6th Floor, Flat No. A1, 33A, J.L.Nehru Road

Calcutta-700071

The Gouripore Company Ltd.

Mukti Chamber

4A, Clive Row

$th Floor, Room No. 408

Calcutta- 700001