• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Port Info

• Ships in Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• The Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Kolkata , Sept. 16

THE Union Government has started the process of making necessary amendments in the Plantations Labour Act, 1951 and make it more relevant to the current industrial scenario.

This was stated by Mr S.N. Menon, Union Commerce Secretary, while talking to presspesons after addressing the 122nd annual general meeting of the Indian Tea Association (ITA). According to him, the Union Labour Ministry is currently working on the amendments of the Plantations Labour Act but preferred not to give any details on the proposed changes.

Instead he said time had come for the Government to bear some portion of the social welfare cost that was currently borne by the plantation sector. "This is just one point. Times have changed. So, there is a need to change in these laws too," Mr Menon said.

It may be noted that an inter-ministerial committee constituted by the Union Labour Ministry conducted a study on the social welfare cost in the tea industry. The committee reported that social welfare cost in north Indian tea gardens was approximately Rs 7.17 a kg of tea.

The total social welfare cost of north Indian tea industry has been calculated at Rs 459.97 crore. The committee suggested that 50 per cent of it should be borne by the Government.

Out of the total share of the Government, the Union Government should pay 80 per cent and the rest 20 per cent should come from the respective State Governments. ITA has already urged the Government to allocate funds for this purpose.

Talking on the proposed amendments, Mr Menon said no deadline had been fixed but added that everybody, including the political parties and industries would be informed about it.

With regard to the tea specifically, he said, Rs 25-30 crore was still there with the Union Government, which was collected from the industry, through the additional excise duty. Among other things, the fund would be utilised on the generic promotion of tea.

He urged the industry to increase tea exports by approximately 50 million kg. At present, tea exports were hovering around 183 million kg. He, however, added that more stringent steps would be taken to maintain the quality of the teas that are been exported.

Regarding the special purpose fund mooted for the re-plantation and rejuvenation of tea bushes, Mr Menon said talks were still on with banks to streamline a procedure for the recovery of the money from the companies. Here too, he preferred not to mention any deadline.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
ICAR affiliates to produce tissue culture seedlings

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line