Tea planters see no sunny side
16 March 2012
SILIGURI, 16 MARCH: Indian tea planters were disappointed watching
the General Budget 2011-12 today as nothing was announced for them
despite repeated appeals to the Central government for the development
of the tea sector.
The advisor associated with the Indian Tea
Planters’ Association, Mr Amitangshu Chakraborty, said: “Despite several
reminders to the Centre nothing has been reflected in the Budget which
was tabled before Parliament. We have not found a single word for tea
industry in today’s Budget.”
“Several proposals were sent to the
Centre from various corners but we don’t know why it has not been
considered in the Budget,” said Mr Chakraborty. “We are looking forward
to the upcoming state budget. We are also expecting something better
from the state,” he added.
The small tea-growers were also
disappointed following the General Budget. The Confederation of Indian
Small Tea Growers’ Associations (CISTA) president, Mr
Bijay Gopal Chakraborty, said: “We had proposed to issue plantation
credit card, crop insurance and adequate fund for setting up Small Tea
Growers’ Development Directorate in north Bengal. But there is no news
for those proposals in the Budget.” It may be noted that the Small Tea
Growers’ Development Directorate has been proposed for north Bengal
earlier.
Mr Chakraborty said: “The small planters would try to
avail agricultural loan facilities with minimal interests following
proposals in the budget today.”
Planters here have been demanding
waiver of salami on lands for tea plantations and tax exemption on
various heads for tea industries and looking forward to the upcoming
state budget. sns
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