HT Digital
GUWAHATI, March 17: The Assam government has fixed around ₹ 550 crores for the state’s tea industry for the fiscal year 2023-24. While presenting the state budget, Finance Minister Ajanta Neog stated that the Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme will also be boosted to bring relief to tea workers.
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The budget is also inclusive of an increase in production subsidy for orthodox tea, which is produced by applying traditional methods of tea production. Production subsidy for orthodox and speciality tea from ₹ 7 to ₹ 10 per kg is already under process. Roadshows will also be conducted across the country to promote Assam Tea as a brand, the Finance Minister said.
Prominence will be given to the infrastructural development of tea garden labour lines, particularly the development of roads. This year, as a mark of special relief, all the arrear electricity dues of tea garden worker families residing in the lines will be waived off as a one-time measure by the Government and will be earmarked Rs 150 crore for the same. Ms Neog further added that 10,000 houses will also be constructed in the labour lines.
The government will consistently keep supporting Assam Tea Corporation Limited against the payment of outstanding liabilities of interest on provident funds in a phased manner, Assam’s Finance Minister said, adding that ₹ 100 crores would be allocated for the same.
The Tea Association of India (TAI) welcomed the Assam budget. TAI branch secretary Dipanjol Deka said in a statement, “Tea Association of India (TAI) hails the Assam budget and lauds the extension of the Assam Agri income tax exemption and the incentives declared under the Assam tea industry special incentive scheme (ATISIS).”
