Assam: ‘Bought leaf factories will have to pay Rs 20 per kg for tea leaves’

DOOMDOOMA: A review meeting was held at the Tinsukia District Commissioner’s conference room on Monday with representatives of the Tinsukia District Administration, Tinsukia District Small Tea Growers’ Association (STGA), Tinsukia District Committee of Bought Leaf Factory and Chah Parishad. A year ago, on July 11, 2022, a review meeting was held at the same venue with the same groups and it was decided that bought leaf factories in Tinsukia district would have to pay at least Rs 20 per kg for tea leaves to small tea growers.

However, when representatives of the STGA informed District Commissioner Swapneel Paul that the bought leaf factories were paying Rs 13-18 instead of Rs 20, the Commissioner directed the bought leaf factories to pay at the rate of Rs.20) per kg with effect from July 11, 2022 until further notice.

The meeting was attended by the president of the Tinsukia District STGA, Mohammad Amin and secretary Ajit Gogoi. The meeting was attended by the other groups present at the meeting. This means that the small tea growers in the district will receive Rs. 20 each for all the tea leaves supplied to the bought leaf factories from July 11, 2022 till date and the meeting has allowed the small tea growers to recover the arrears from the bought leaf factories. The Commissioner also warned that action would be taken against any bought leaf factory that does otherwise. The meeting was attended by Additional District Commissioner Rajbongshi and Assistant Director of Chah Parishad Anjan Gogoi among others. The meeting also directed the trained officers of Tokolai to determine the quality of the green tea leaves supplied by the small tea growers to the bought leaf factories. The bought leaf factories cannot go against this and determine the quality of the leaves from their side.

It was also decided to close the gates of bought leaf factories from 6:30 pm. The District Commissioner warned that the administration would take legal action against offenders of rules. After 6:30 pm, tea leaves can be taken for any special reason only with the permission of the administration and the Chah Parishad.

Again from now onwards, the District Commissioner directed the bought leaf factories to fix and preserve CCTV cameras at the entrance, leaf weighing area, weight measurement, scene of leaf unloading from vehicles etc. and warned that appropriate action would be taken against the bought leaf factories in the event of non-compliance.

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