ITA, North Eastern Tea Association, FINER Hail Budget Incentives

GUWAHATI: The Indian Tea Association (ITA) has commended the announcements made by the Finance Minister Ajanta Neog in the Assam Budget proposals for 2022-23.

In a press release, the ITA also expressed its deep gratitude to the Government of Assam for favourably considering its submission and extending the exemption on payment of cess on green leaf for a further period of three years with effect from January1, 2022.

The industry is going through a period of acute financial stress and the exemption granted on Green Leaf Cess will provide the necessary relief, it said.

The decision to extend infrastructural assistance of Rs 2 crore per garden to 50 tea gardens in 2022-23 for building guest houses/tourist facilities in tea gardens will provide a much-required boost to Tea Tourism and will help in augmenting income for the tea gardens. Other Budget announcements such as promoting non-tea commercial activities like agro-forestry, solar power projects and taking over of primary schools etc., are all laudable steps for the long-term sustainability of the Assam Tea Sector.

In another press release, the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Finance Minister Ajanta Neog for heeding the appeals made by the Tea Industry and incorporating their requests in the Budget 2022-23.

NETA chairman Kamal Jalan made special mention of Budget announcements like 50 Tea Tourism projects, permitting tea gardens to pursue non-tea cultivation activities such as agro-forestry and solar power projects, exemption of Green Leaf Cess, continuation of the 'Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme' (ATISIS) for one more year and Government take-over of 436 schools in tea gardens.

Via another press release, FINER also welcomed the Assam Budget 2022-23. FINER president Pabitra Buragohain especially welcomed the initiative taken by the State Government in the New Industrial and Investment Policy 2022, and said that it will immensely help in the growth of the Industries.

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