The Department of Jute and Fibre Technology (DJFT),
a Technology Department of the University of Calcutta formerly
known as Institute of Jute Technology (IJT), is situated at 35,
Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata – 700 019 in South Calcutta
Campus of the University of Calcutta (commonly known as Ballygunge
Science College Campus ). Institute of Jute Technology was founded
on 10th March, 1951, jointly by the University of
Calcutta and Indian Jute Mill’s Association (IJMA) on a piece of
land of the University of Calcutta donated by Tarak Nath Palit
Trust. The main objective of this Institute was to cater education
and training to fulfill the HRD needs of jute and allied fibre
sector for development of qualified technical manpower and
training of mill-personnel for the Indian Jute Mills as
recommended by the “Appointment Board” of the University of
Calcutta, way back in 1940. The financial expenditure was
initially maintained by the IJMA and their member mills of IJT up
to 1982. Jute Manufactures Development Council (JMDC), Ministry of
Textiles , Govt of India came forward to help this Institute
financially initially on adhoc basis since 1982 and on five year
MOU basis from 1991-92. National Jute Board (NJB), Ministry of
Textiles, Govt. of India, [earlier known as Jute Manufactures
Development Council (JMDC)], has provided continued financial
support to this Institute through Memorandum of Understanding with
the approval of the Ministry of Textiles. Recently University of
Calcutta has come forward to take financial responsibility for
running this Institute with the consent of State Govt. of West
Bengal, Higher Education Department. Accordingly on and from 1st
July, 2011, this Institute has been converted into a Technology
Department of the University of Calcutta with the concurrence from
the Govt. of West Bengal and named as the “Department of Jute and
Fibre Technology (DJFT), Institute of Jute Technology, University
of Calcutta.”
In addition, this department ( erstwhile IJT) is
also receiving capital and project based financial grants from
time to time for implementing various Training Project, R & D
projects and other Developmental activities from different Govt.
agencies like, MHRD, AICTE, CSIR, JMDC/NJB,Ministry of Textiles,
Govt. of India, International organizations like United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), International Jute Study Group (IJSG)
etc.
Earlier this institute conducted post-B.Sc. two and
a half year Diploma in Jute Technology and Post-Diploma 1 year B.
Tech in Jute Technology (Jute/Fibre Technology) and discontinued
them in 1999. Instead, since 1999, four year B. Tech in Jute and
Fibre Technology course was introduced in tune with the all India
pattern for the engineering degree courses. The admission to this
Four year B Tech Course was through WBJEE. In 2008, the Institute
modified the 4-year B. Tech courses to semester system and started
8 semester courses in B. Tech in Jute and Fibre Technology and B.
Tech in Jute Technology. The Institute also started M. Tech course
in Textile Technology (Technical Textiles) in the year 2005. Since
1967, this Institute is conducting two regular short technician
certificate courses, known as Junior Level Supervisors’ Courses,
one in spinning and the other in weaving, each with duration of
three months. This Institute has recently another JLS course in
maintenance of Jute machinery for the need of Industry. The
courses are meant for the persons working in jute mills in
supervisory level for a long time but do not have any formal
technical education. After converting this Institute, as
technological department of Jute and Fibre Technology of
University of Calcutta, the present intake of B.Tech in Jute and
Fibre Technology is increased to 60 (instead of two B.Tech Course
in Jute and Fibre Technology and in Jute Technology with 20 intake
in each). Moreover, considering the interest of IJMA and Jute
industry as a whole for commencement of 2 year Post B.Sc P.G
Level Diploma Course in Jute Technology (discontinued since
1999),it has been decided by the University of Calcutta to
reintroduce 2 years post B.S c Post Graduate Diploma in Jute
Technology and Management course, with the financial assistance
National Jute Board ,Ministry of Textiles,Government of India,
which is expected to be started in the academic session 2011 –
2012 or 2012 – 13.
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