Kishanganj jute mill project: Victim of politics

Labour fraternity observes May Day. In remote areas in India, only a foundation stone does the job for a mill. People die in its anticipation for state apathy and political negligence. 'Kishanganj jute mill', is one such victim of this malady.

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ Day or Labour Day is being observed on Thursday (May 1) across the world. A day, especially dedicated to workers, it is celebrated for the social and economic achievements of labour movement and the labour fraternity.


Of course, the day is celebrated every year, but it hardly makes any difference in the daily curricula or status of workers. On this special day I focus on the flawed policies of our governments.


It’s true that development works go on in big cities and towns in India, but still the central and the state governments fail to give due attention to the backwardness of remote areas. Hardly in few suburbs across the country you will find government-run industries. In fact, governments at both the levels make tall claims of setting up industries in remote or backward areas.


However, after the inauguration of a project for setting up of an industry, remaining works run on paper not at the proposed site. There are hundreds of examples of state apathy, one being in Kishanganj district of north Bihar.

Considered as one of the most backward districts of Bihar and the country alike, Kishanganj is basically an agricultural belt. Here, majority of people depend on cultivation. They grow paddy, wheat, jute and other crops. Despite hard labour and huge investment, farmers get minimal benefit from their yield. Apart from cultivation, some educated people are in government and other private jobs. Rest of the population who do not have sufficient land or are not highly educated, unwillingly head towards cities like Delhi or Mumbai to earn their livelihood. The main reason behind urban migration is the absence of industries in the district.

In August, 2003, the Bhartiya Janata Party MP and the then Union textile minister, Shahnawaz Hussain, had laid the foundation of a jute mill at Simalbari, Kishanganj so as to support such people. The 50-tonne capacity jute mill was supposed to create permanent employment opportunities for at least 5,000 unemployed youths of the district. After its foundation, farmers were expecting that they would get good amount of money for jute, while youths were believing that they would not have to migrate for earning. Just few days after the foundation, work at the site begun. Localites expected they would see a jute mill in Kishanganj.


In early 2004, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the centre, announced for early elections and it suffered major defeat. BJP’s candidate in Kishanganj, Shahnawaz Hussain also lost his seat to Mohammad Taslimuddin. After becoming the MP, Taslimuddin put hold on the jute mill project. Ever since, people have been anticipating that work at the site would restart, but in vain! The present government too has not given a thought for it.


Actually, one more development project of the country became a victim of ugly political indifferences. The jute mill in Kishanganj is still a dream for the local people but no local political leader comes forward. Shahnawaz Hussain did try to utilise his ministerial portfolio for the betterment of the unemployed youths of the district but his plan seems to have failed.


Before Hussain, many MPs of this constituency made fake promises to open a jute mill in Kishanganj, but they never did anything.
Even today, you can see a sign-board at the site, saying, ‘Kishanganj Jute Mill’ and a huge tin-shaded building surrounded by a boundary. Its present condition is pathetic. If the unfinished mill project is not undertaken, thousands of youths would be rendered useless.


On this auspicious Labour Day, I, on behalf of the people of Kishanganj, appeal to both the state and the central governments to mull over the proposed jute mill at Kishanganj.


The bottom line is that the government must give due attention to complete such unfinished project to make India a prosperous nation.

- Published in www.merinews.com on 1st May 2008