Special Correspondent
CHENNAI: Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi has appealed to the Centre to fix the minimum price at a very reasonable level for green tea leaves grown by small growers, to protect them from financial crisis and enable them to raise their standard of living.
In a letter to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath, the Chief Minister said at present the price of the leaves was fixed by individual tea manufacturing units after taking into consideration the sale proceeds of made tea and the manufacturing cost. The price varied from factory to factory and from region to region. Since 1998, the small tea growers and the workers had been agitating for a reasonable price for the green tea leaves grown by them. In June, 2000, the then Union Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran announced a subsidy of Rs 1.25 per kg which was increased to Rs 2 per kg. Maran was instrumental in increasing the import duty on tea from 15 per cent to 35 per cent so as to discourage imports. The High Court also in its order on June 15 asked tea companies to consider the representation made by small tea growers. At this juncture it would be appropriate for the Union Minister to take early action on the issue, Mr.Karunanidhi said.