Tea estates seeking financial assistance from the Rs 4,700-crore modernisation fund — to be sanctioned for the revival of the tea industry — should be put under scanner.
Trade union leaders who attended yesterday’s meeting, convened by state commerce and industry minister Nirupam Sen, said they have asked the government to scrutinise the financial condition of the estates before issuing them a long-term loan of 15 years against an interest of 2.5 per cent.
“We specifically mentioned at the meeting that management of estates like Kanthalguri, Ramjhora and Raipur should not be given financial assistance from this fund. The management of these gardens left without any reason and intimation and stayed out of conciliation meetings, leaving the labourers to suffer. We will not have these owners reopening their units by utilising government funds,” said Chitta Dey, the convener of the Coordination Committee of Tea Plantation Workers.
For monitoring and proper utilisation of the fund, union leaders have also asked the minister to form a joint committee comprising tea planters, government officials and labour leaders.
Small tea growers, on the other hand, have decided to form self-help groups, Bijoygopal Chakrobarty, convener of United Forum of Small tea Growers’ Associations said.
Source > The Telegraph
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