Answer:
The jute industry is one of the major industries in the eastern region, particularly in West Bengal. The state accounts for over 80 percent of the jute production in the country and employs one-fourth of its population in jute mills.
Reasons for high concentration of jute mills in West Bengal
• Soil: The alluvial conditions of Eastern Bengal offer ideal environment for jute cultivation. Thus, availability of raw jute makes jute textile manufacturing the most prominent industry in the state.

• Transportation: Inexpensive water transport supported by a good network of railways, roadways and waterways facilitates movement of raw materials, finished products and mill equipments to the mills.
• Water availability: The industry requires huge amount of water for processing jute, which is provided by the Hooghly river.
• Cheap labour: The jute industry is labour intensive. The labour is abundantly present in the region and adjoining areas of Bihar and Odisha.
• Energy: Iron and coal which are required for the installation and running of jute factories are also available from the nearby mines of Raniganj.
• Geographical Location: Bangladesh is another major grower of Jute. The jute mills in Bengal get abundant local and imported supply from Bangladesh.
• Market: Kolkata as a large urban centre provides banking, insurance and port facilities for export of jute goods.
Despite high potential, the jute industry in India is marred with several issues:
• Segregation of mills and raw jute: Prior to partition, Bengal produced half of the world’s jute. After partition, raw jute growers in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) and manufacturers in West Bengal found themselves in two countries.
• Economic Slowdown: Since 1970s, the slow economic decline of West Bengal led to closure of industrial units and loss of jobs.
• Lowered demand: Jute is getting replaced by synthetic fibre. It has lowered the profitability of the industry, leading to low & irregular wages and alleged exploitation of workers.
• Awareness: Low awareness among consumers of the versatility and eco-friendly nature of the jute fabric has also been a stumbling block in making it popular.

• Availability: Availability of the good quality raw jute is another issue. Mill owners get low quality and cheap jute from neighbouring states and countries.
• Lack of Technology: Lack of modernisation and industry’s failure to evolve with changing market and consumer demands are other major issues.
To address the above identified issues, the government has come up with several initiatives to revive the sector. The first National Jute Policy, 2005 aims to facilitate the sector to attain and sustain a preeminent global standing in the manufacture and export of Jute products. Further, National Jute Board and National Jute Mission were approved to further this aim. India’s plan to eliminate single use plastic by 2022 will also give a boost to jute – the golden fibre.