The Hindu Business Line : Centre approves pepper re-plantation programme

Kochi, Nov. 12 The Centre has approved the pepper re-plantation programme for Kerala, where 20,000 hectare per year will be covered in the next 10 years, said the Union Minister of State for Commercer, Mr Jairam Ramesh.

An amount of Rs 30 crore per year would be spent by the Centre under the National Horticulture Mission, which would be most beneficial for Idukki and Wayanad districts, he said speaking at a function in Idukki for the disbursement of HRD grant to the workers of closed tea gardens in the State.

A total of Rs 47 lakh would be given to 4,664 workers in the eight closed tea gardens in the State as part of the grant.

He pointed out that the scenario in the State was not very bad as only eight tea gardens remained closed out of the total 158.

However, the Minister warned that decision would be taken on the closed tea gardens as the Committee under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary Ministry of Commerce would meet them to operationalise section 16 (E) of the Tea Act, 1953.

Closed gardens

The Act would be invoked on the erring tea gardens. He also reiterated that the Special Purpose Tea Fund would be implemented in Kerala and Tamil Nadu by next month.

Earlier, the Union Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, handed over the HRD grand cheque of Rs 42 lakh for workers of the closed tea gardens to the Idukki District Collector.

The State Labour and Excise Minister, Mr P.K. Gurudasan, presided over the function. Mr Antony said the workers’ problems from the closed tea gardens would be resolved only if they all reopened. The disbursement of Rs 1,000 each to workers of the closed tea gardens was only an interim relief, he said.

Mr Antony said that both the Centre and State are working together to reopen the tea gardens at the earliest, as 10 out of the 17 gardens are already reopened. Referring to the agriculture packages for the State, Mr Antony said that Dr Swaminathan’s report to rejuvenate the agriculture sector in Kerala was awaited.

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