Tea
industry in barak valley in crisis
Barak valley,
a geographical territory situated in the southern part of Assam, is full of
green tea gardens. Tea cultivation is an indispensable part of the cultural heritage
of this land.. It is reported that for the first time tea gardens in Barak
Valley were started in 1855 at Bursangaon and Gungurpar. Subsequently it was
developed in Kathal, Silcoorie and Arcattipore and in many other places around
Silchar. By the first quarter of the20th century
as many as 100 gardens were established in Barak Valley . Duringthe nineteenth
century, Cachar tea was holding the top position in productionamong the
districts of Assam but since then the balance dramatically reversed.The climate
and soil conditions are often cited as the reason but the historicalevidences of
tea cultivation in Assam in its initial stage (i.e., mid 19th century) donot
substantiate such arguments. According to the recent statistics, this valley
has112 tea
gardens, out of which 6 are sick and remaining are producing green leafsand made tea.
He
also demanding introduction of a special package of concessions and incentives
by both the Centre and State government for Barak valley tea industry. Here he
mentioned that former central commerce secretary SN Menon recommended for
special package for the Barak Valley tea industry.
It
may be mentioned that Barak valley has 100 tea gardens at present and needs
special care from both Central and State government.
Over
700 laborers of three tea estates in south Assam's Barak Valley today started an indefinite strike to demand for payment of gratuity and the regularisation
of contractual workers. The protesters, from Koya, Ramchandi and Moonachoda tea
gardens, alleged that they have been deprived of gratuity for "the past
ten years." "Our gratuity has not been paid for long. Besides we have
no medical facilities and hundreds of contractual workers in the three estates
have not been regularised despite working for years," Koya Tea Estate
Workers Union President Rajkumar Koiri said. The labourers also pressed for
equal wages to contractual employees in line with regular ones.
The tea industry in Barak Valley is passing through hard days. Labour
problem, including less number of tea labourers for NREGA scheme, inadequate
communication system, power crisis, increased revenue tax for Barak tea garden,
cess on green leaf, increased pollution fee, less transport subsidy etc. have
put Barak tea industry in a hopeless condition. This was stated by DP Maheswari
president TAI Barak valley branch at the 39th annual conference of the body
held here recently said in keeping with the national trend, Barak valley region
has also registered a fall in the production of tea last year in comparison to
its output in 2008. In our country tea consumption has increased to 4 per cent.
This season the whole NE region experienced shortfall in rain which created
obstruction in tea production, mentioned Maheswari. He said the need of the day
was to go for better quality tea, after keeping aside the common varieties of
the produce in the state gardens in general and Barak garden in particular for
blending purpose. TAI BV branch president has expressed concern over the
shortfall of the country’s export market as the industry could send only 169
million kg of tea last year in comparison to 187 million kg in 2008.
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