The tea industry is preparing to tap Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s chai pe charcha campaign and apprise the new government of the industry’s current position.
The Union Commerce Ministry has asked the industry to prepare a status paper outlining its requirements for the next 15 to 20 years.
“Since our Prime Minister is so closely associated with tea, the industry too felt that it would be the right time to apprise him of the industry’s status and its requirements,” according to the apex industry association, Indian Tea Association.
Incidentally, Gujarat is the biggest tea-consuming State in the country.
One of the main issues that is set to get highlighted in the paper, which is now under preparation, is that of the 12th plan schemes.
Although the plan has rolled off, the industry has remained in the dark about the schemes, which have not been finalised.
“The industry would like some clarity on the schemes,” an industry source said.
The issue of the social schemes may also get flagged with the industry pressing for a dovetailing of various schemes that it now extends to garden workers with the existing government schemes.
The industry is governed by two Acts, the Tea Act and the Plantation Labour Act, 1951. The latter makes it incumbent on tea estate managements to provide a range of welfare benefits to the labourers.
It is felt that many of the social security schemes, health schemes, and education schemes could be merged with the relevant Central schemes now in currency.
Industry sources told The Hindu that the current status of various schemes like plantation rejuvenation scheme, incentive scheme for orthodox tea production, quality upgrade scheme, and market promotion scheme is set to come up for discussion as will certain taxation proposals governing the agro-based industry.
“The industry construct will also be discussed vis-a-vis the organised industry and small tea growers (STG) who now contribute nearly 40 per cent of India’s tea output,” an industry source said.
