Tea growers sore over tardy implementation of CM-MMP

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, March 6: The Aruchal Pradesh Small Tea Growers Association (APSTGA) in its governing body meeting held here recently expressed resentment over the ineffective implementation of the CM Mission Mode programme for small tea growers in the state.

Most of the small tea growers, who are supposed to be beneficiaries of the programme, alleged that the nodal agencies under the scheme  have no idea at all about the tea plantation, they are not aware of tea sapling qualities, handling of its transportations, storing of saplings etc.

The meeting unimously adopted resolutions to approach the Government for change of procurement policies during the fincial year 2014-2015, a communiqué said here today.

While participating in the meeting, Women and Child Development, Law and Justice Minister Wangling Lowangdong, who is also one of small tea growers, in his keynote address stressed the need of central and state governments’ assistance for solution to the problems in making the tea industry a profitable one.

He said the tea industry may become the major revenue earning source after hydro power in the state but the state has not given a serious thought over the tea industry. However, the minister assured to play great role to remove the bottleneck.

While lauding the former governor General J J Singh (Retd) for his initiative in establishment of Regiol Tea Board office at Itagar, the Association rued that the needy and margil small tea growers of Aruchal Pradesh are being denied getting registered with Tea Board of India on the basis of circulation issued by the union ministry of environment and fForests, making compulsory forest clearance from the ministry as per directive of Supreme Court.

The house decided to approach every door for early solution to the vexed issue and for exclusion of such clauses in the interest of margil small tea growers.

The meeting however, lauded the interest shown by Prime Minister rendra Modi in organic team growth in his recent visit to the state, the communiqué added.