The Hindu Business Line : Small-scale sector seeks nomination on Tea Board

Reacting to the latest appointment of nine members, the Nilgiris Small Tea Growers' Association (NSTGA) has regretted that no representation has been given to the small growers or the bought-leaf factories in the private small-scale sector.

"This is the first time that no representation has been given to the small-scale sector. Ever since the reconstitution of the Board fell due in 2005, we had been sending our nominations. We have no reply why our nominations had been rejected or why the Government feels that the small-scale sector of the Nilgiris needs no representation on the Board. The indifference shown to our repeated pleas is dampening our spirit," NSTGA President Mr T. Rangaiah, who had served longer tenures on the Tea Board including as its Vice-Chairman, told Business Line.

`Dominant role'

He said every benefit from the Board the small growers and the bought-leaf factories enjoy today has been obtained by spirited fight at the meetings of the Board by the representatives of the small-scale sector.

"We have made the Board grant us replanting, rejuvenation, factory modernisation, irrigation and similar subsidies. We had got several planting materials and inputs at subsidised cost. We had influenced the Board to promote the small-scale sector's interests at national and international forums. We had even implemented a crop diversification programme that had led to massive revolution in the tea history of the Nilgiris. Today, the small-scale sector of the Nilgiris accounts for some 35 per cent of the southern production and some 10 per cent of the national output. ," Mr Rangaiah said.

The Nilgiri Bought Leaf Tea Manufacturers' Association has also appealed to the Commerce Minister to appoint its representatives on the Board, said Mr R.B. Gopalakrishnan, Secretary.