The Hindu Business Line : Small growers seek representation on Tea Board

Coonoor, Sept. 18 The Nilgiris Small Tea Growers’ Association has appealed to the Union Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, to nominate its President on to Tea Board.

“We have reminded the Minister that it had been the practice for the Government to nominate our Association’s President on the Board. The Association had received nomination even in the erstwhile ‘Tea Council’ during the British regime. But, all of a sudden, since the last term, no representation has been given to our Association or for that matter, the small-scale sector in the Nilgiris comprising the growers and bought-leaf factories,” the Association President, Mr T. Rangaiah, told Business Line.

Boosting growth

Pointing out that the Nilgiris had been the pioneer for small-scale entrepreneurship in tea in India, he said that his Association had been instrumental in helping the small-scale sector in the Nilgiris achieve the 80 million kg production, from a mere 18 million kg in 1970.

“If our Association does not get represented on the Board, the voice of this vital sector goes unheard in the policy making body. Our representatives had always served effectively on the Board,” Mr Rangaiah said.

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