SITA reviews functioning of Assam Tea Corporation (ATC) gardens

GUWAHATI: Under the aegis of State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA), Assam a meeting on tea gardens under Assam Tea Corporation (ATC) with Industry & Commerce Department, Government of Assam was held at the Conference Hall of Gopinath Bordoloi Bhavan here on Friday.

The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of SITA Vice-Chairman Dipok Kumar Barthakur to review the present status of ATC gardens.

The meeting was attended by the three advisors namely, Dr. Mridul Hazarika, Dr. K.M Bujarbaruah, Kashi Nath Hazarika and Secretary of Industry & Commerce and Managing Director of ATC Rani Katharpi, Consultant ATC Dr. N. Barpujari, among representatives of fifteen Tea Gardens of ATC.

At the outset of the meeting the Vice-Chairman, SITA welcomed all the members and apprised them about the agenda of the meeting regarding the various issues faced by the Tea gardens.

SITA advisor Dr. Mridul Hazarika gave the introductory speech about SITA and issues related to the TEA Gardens with special emphasis of ATC Tea Gardens. He spoke on the challenges and needs of innovative approach to improve the productivity and profitability of tea industry at large and ATC in particular.

Rani Katharpi explained the background of ATC and the present scenario of the Tea Gardens. Later Dr. K.M Bujarbaruah and Kashi Nath Hazarika expressed their views on the need for identifying the specific issues and challenges to enhance revenue and streamline operational systems to achieve the industry benchmarks for consolidating growth potential of the corporation. Later, the representatives of the Tea Gardens highlighted their issues relating to production and productivity, diversification of business, revisiting of MoU, relating to reemployment in the gardens.

Many ideas emerged during discussion on cost rationalization, alternative revenue generation, and increase in productivity etc. It was felt that an action plan needs to be drawn for the ATC gardens to achieve their potentiality. Alternative cropping, fishery and other revenue generating schemes have been mooted during the interaction.

SITA will prepare an action plan based on the suggestion received during the interaction and will be submit it to the appropriate authority for needful action. stated a release.

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