Lok Sabha Question No. 41 (STARRED), answered on 2017-02-06
Subject: Development Schemes for Tea Industry
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: MAULANA BADRUDDIN AJMAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 41 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 th  FEBRUARY, 2017

## DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES FOR TEA INDUSTRY

## *41.    SHRI BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Tea Board/Government has taken adequate measures for the development of tea industry in the country especially in Assam and if so, the details thereof including schemes under implementation;
- (b) whether schemes are being implemented by the Government for the welfare of tea workers/labourers also and if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
- (c) whether the Government  proposes to provide any special package for the development of tea gardens and also welfare of workers/labourers with respect to education, health and sanitation and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- a) to  c):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 41   FOR ANSWER ON 06 TH  FEBRUARY, 2017 REGARDING 'DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES FOR TEA INDUSTRY'

(a): The Central Government, through Tea Board, is promoting the development of tea industry  in  the  country,  including  Assam,  by  way  of  regulations  under  the  Tea  Act,  1953. Further, Tea Board is also implementing 'Tea Development and Promotion Scheme (TDPS)''. The scheme, inter alia, includes activities for improvement in tea production, productivity, quality  up-gradation,  research  and  extension,  promotion  of  exports  and  value  addition through provisions of financial and technical assistance to growers and other stakeholders of the tea industry.  A total amount of Rs.596 crore has been spent so far in the 12th plan period under the Scheme by the Tea Board.

(b)& (c):  The working condition of tea garden workers in the country are governed by the Plantation Labour Act (PLA), 1951, administered by Ministry of Labour &Employment and enforced by the concerned state governments. The Act requires the employers to provide the  workers  with  housing,  medical  facilities,  sickness  and  maternity  benefits  and  other forms  of  social  security  measures.    There  are  provisions  for  educational  facility  for  the children, drinking water, conservancy, canteens, crèches and recreational facilities for the benefit of the tea plantation workers and their families in and around the work places in the tea estates. The Labour Department of the State Governments monitor the implementation of the provisions of this Act.

Tea  Board  is  also  implementing  Human  Resource  Development  (HRD)  activities  aiming  at improving the health and hygiene of workers, education of wards of workers and imparting training  to  improve  skills  for  growers/workers.      The  State-wise  details  of  assistance provided,  during  the  12 th Plan  Period  from  2012-13  to  2016-17  (till  December  2016)  are given in the following Table:

| State             |   Total (Rs. cr) |
|-------------------|------------------|
| Assam             |            18.64 |
| Arunachal Pradesh |             0.36 |
| Tripura           |             0.41 |
| West Bengal       |             5.33 |
| Tamil Nadu        |             4.11 |
| Kerala            |             4.33 |
| Karnataka         |             0.03 |
| Himachal Pradesh  |             0.03 |
| Total             |            33.24 |

In view of the provisions of PLA, 1951, and the TPDS already under implementation, there is no proposal, at present under consideration for any special package for the development of tea  gardens  and  welfare  of  workers/labourers  with  respect  to  education,  health  and sanitation.

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