Nirmala Sitharaman to visit closed tea gardens in Siliguri

Tea garden workers pluck tea leaves inside Aideobarie Tea Estate in Jorhat in Assam, India, April 21, 2015. Unrest is brewing among Assam's so-called Tea Tribes as changing weather patterns upset the economics of the industry. Scientists say climate change is to blame for uneven rainfall that is cutting yields and lifting costs for tea firms. Picture taken April 21, 2015. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman will meet the stakeholders in the tea industry in Siliguri in north Bengal on Sunday to discuss the problems of the industry.

On her agenda is a visit to two closed gardens in North Bengal – Red Bank and Surrendranagar, discussions with small tea growers as also the Indian Tea Association the apex industry association.

She is also likely to announce the various schemes for the tea industry under the 12th Five Year Plan and roll off the issue of biometric cards for STGs.