Conflict between small tea growers and tea factory employees

From a Correspondent

GOLAGHAT (Dhekial), Sept 30: For refusing to accept raw tea leaves from small tea growers by a bought factory, a conflict took place between tea factory employees and a small tea grower on Thursday.

Sources said that Sanjibani Small Tea Grower of Chitoli area under Golaghat district had carried raw tea leaves in a 407 vehicle to Salmoramukh Tea Factory for unloading the raw tea leaves. But the factory authority refused to accept the raw tea leaves for poor quality. The Sanjibani small tea grower’s secretary was offended and there was a scuffle with the factory employees. The incident created tension in this area and the situation was controlled by Golaghat police.

Small tea growers are demanding price hike of raw tea leaves in Golaghat district as they are facing huge losses due to low market prices. On basis of discussion with the Deputy Commissioner, officials of Tea Board of India, Tea Association of India, the Small Tea Growers Association had fixed Rs. 15.60 per kg as the minimum price of raw tea leaves in Golaghat district. The monitoring committee and the Tea Board of India directed all bought leaf and tea factories to cooperate in the matter and to receive the raw tea leaves from the growers. But still some tea factories are allegedly not abiding by the rules and regulation of the monitoring committee as well as direction of the Tea Board of India.