Lok Sabha Question No. 1886 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-30
Subject: Development of Tea Industry
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1886 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th  JULY,2018

## DEVELOPMENT OF TEA INDUSTRY

## 1886. SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

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

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

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a)& (b): Yes,  Madam.    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)''which  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.786.64 crore has been spent during the 12 th Plan Period (2012-13 to 2016-17) and 2017-18 & 2018-19 (Upto 30.6.2018) under the scheme by the Tea Board, which includes Rs.362.39 crore extended to the State of Assam.

(c),  (d)&  (e):    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. This 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.

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 (2012-13 to 2016-17) and 2017-18 & 2018-19 (Upto 30.6.2018) are given in the following Table:

| State             |   (Rs. In Cr) |
|-------------------|---------------|
| Assam             |         20.11 |
| Arunachal Pradesh |          0.37 |
| Tripura           |          0.15 |
| West Bengal       |          6.33 |
| Tamil Nadu        |          5.77 |
| Kerala            |          7.38 |
| Karnataka         |          0.03 |
| Himachal Pradesh  |          0.05 |
| Uttarakhand       |          0.01 |
| Total             |         40.2  |

In view of the provisions of PLA, 1951, and the TDPS 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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