Strengthening Assam tea industries announced in Assam Budget 2023-24

GUWAHATI: The various schemes announced in the Assam Budget 2023-24, which is proposed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, are extending the best possible help to the tea industry as well as to the tea garden workers.

The proposal to organize road shows in major cities across the country as well as abroad to promote Assam Tea as a brand and showcase the rich socio-cultural heritage of tea garden communities will go a long way in increasing the per capita consumption of tea, which is the need of the hour. The unlocking of 5 percent of tea garden land for agriculture and allied activities will help to bring additional revenue and thereby contribute to the viability of the tea industry.

The strengthening of the Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme (ATISIS), 2020, and increasing the subsidy for production of orthodox tea from Rs 7 to Rs 12 per kg, coinciding with the celebration of 200 years of Assam tea, is a welcome gesture. The extension of the tax holiday on agricultural income tax for a period of three years would be helpful for the tea industry.

The development of roads leading to labour lines in tea gardens, waiving off all the arrear electricity dues of tea garden worker families living in the lines as a one-time measure, enhancement of the "Wage Compensation Scheme for Pregnant Women of Tea Garden Areas of Assam", to Rs 15,000 from the existing Rs 12,000, construction of 500 Mahaprabhu Jagannath Community Halls and Skill Centres in the prominent localities of tea gardens, construction of 10,000 houses in tea garden labour lines under the Mukhya Mantri Awaas Yojana, consideration of around 3 percent reservation into government jobs within the OBC quota are some of the noteworthy announcements in the budget, stated a press release.