SILCHAR, Aug 28: From the cup of woes of years, it is going to be cuppa of buoyancy for the tea gardens of Barak Valley and the one lakh labour force is expected to have smiles on their faces during the festive days of Durga Puja.
Surma Valley Branch of Indian Tea Association chairman Surya Narain Singh said: “The fortune of the domestic tea industry finally appears to be recovering from the decade-long bearish phase.” Tea prices have been firming up. Till the end of 2008, as he pointed out, auction or whole sale prices of tea is some Rs 20 per kg, higher than last year, and the future prospect appears to be bullish too. It is now fetching Rs 70 per kg in the auction market and at Rs 90-100 in the open market this year.
Despite a drought-like situation across the valley, production has increased by over 11 million kg. As per Tea Board estimates till date, production has been to the tune of 53 million kg as compared to 42 million kg last year.
This is enabling the industry, added Surya Narain Singh, to start work on modernization with the objective of boosting production with a thrust on quality. The workers who suffered a lot during difficult times would be benefited by enhanced wages and bonus, he stated. All the 104 tea gardens located in Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts, expect INTUC affiliated Cachar Cha Sramik Union and Barak Valley Cha Mazdoor Sangh, will pay bonus at hiked rates well before the pujas. Three tea gardens of Rosekandy, Kalain and Binnakandi last year paid the highest bonus of 20 per cent. Arunabond tea estate has also declared bonus for the workers well in advance.
Barak Valley Cha Mazdoor Sangh vice president Diresh Chnadra Das hoped that other tea gardens would also pay an increased bonus in time and without any hassle. Payment of bonus in the past has not been without trouble in some cases. Cachar Cha Sramik Union assistant general secretary Dina Nath Boroi said he found no reason for being apprehensive this year due to better output and upswing profit. Both the Unions have started negotiations with garden management on the bonus issue.
The buoyancy has been achieved through a slew of measures initiated by the industry. With Special Purpose Tea Fund (SPTF) introduced by Union Ministry of Commerce, tea estates have undertaken replanting, replacement of old bushes and rejuvenation. There is also the welcome development that Ministry of commerce has in principle agreed to share 50 per cent of social infrastructure cost of the plantation industry.
The tea industry on its part has been appreciative of the trade union leadership in this valley for showing maturity, prudence as well as understanding, specially during the hard times.
This ultimately benefits the entire industry and the work force. Once Barak tea is included in the Vishesh Krishi Gram Udyog Yojana by the government of India, it will be another boosting factor, said ITA secretary general M Das Gupta. THE SENTINEL
Surma Valley Branch of Indian Tea Association chairman Surya Narain Singh said: “The fortune of the domestic tea industry finally appears to be recovering from the decade-long bearish phase.” Tea prices have been firming up. Till the end of 2008, as he pointed out, auction or whole sale prices of tea is some Rs 20 per kg, higher than last year, and the future prospect appears to be bullish too. It is now fetching Rs 70 per kg in the auction market and at Rs 90-100 in the open market this year.
Despite a drought-like situation across the valley, production has increased by over 11 million kg. As per Tea Board estimates till date, production has been to the tune of 53 million kg as compared to 42 million kg last year.
This is enabling the industry, added Surya Narain Singh, to start work on modernization with the objective of boosting production with a thrust on quality. The workers who suffered a lot during difficult times would be benefited by enhanced wages and bonus, he stated. All the 104 tea gardens located in Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts, expect INTUC affiliated Cachar Cha Sramik Union and Barak Valley Cha Mazdoor Sangh, will pay bonus at hiked rates well before the pujas. Three tea gardens of Rosekandy, Kalain and Binnakandi last year paid the highest bonus of 20 per cent. Arunabond tea estate has also declared bonus for the workers well in advance.
Barak Valley Cha Mazdoor Sangh vice president Diresh Chnadra Das hoped that other tea gardens would also pay an increased bonus in time and without any hassle. Payment of bonus in the past has not been without trouble in some cases. Cachar Cha Sramik Union assistant general secretary Dina Nath Boroi said he found no reason for being apprehensive this year due to better output and upswing profit. Both the Unions have started negotiations with garden management on the bonus issue.
The buoyancy has been achieved through a slew of measures initiated by the industry. With Special Purpose Tea Fund (SPTF) introduced by Union Ministry of Commerce, tea estates have undertaken replanting, replacement of old bushes and rejuvenation. There is also the welcome development that Ministry of commerce has in principle agreed to share 50 per cent of social infrastructure cost of the plantation industry.
The tea industry on its part has been appreciative of the trade union leadership in this valley for showing maturity, prudence as well as understanding, specially during the hard times.
This ultimately benefits the entire industry and the work force. Once Barak tea is included in the Vishesh Krishi Gram Udyog Yojana by the government of India, it will be another boosting factor, said ITA secretary general M Das Gupta. THE SENTINEL
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