Assam To Celebrate 200 Year Old Tea Industry With Budget Allocation of Rs 550 Crore

GUWAHATI: In a bid to resolve the state's protracted financial problems and mark 200 years of Assam Tea, the Assam government has allocated roughly Rs 550 crore for the state's tea business.

Finance Minister Ajanta Neog stated that the Assam Tea Industry Special Incentives Plan will also be improved to provide relief to tea workers when presenting the state budget.

"Tea garden land now has the potential to be utilized for agriculture and related activities. To encourage the production of orthodox tea and specialty tea in Assam, the Assam Tea Industry Special Incentives Scheme (ATISIS), 2020, will be further reinforced in this financial year”, Neog commented while presenting the state budget for the year 2023–2024, .

In order to "celebrate 200 years of Assam tea," the budget also includes an increase in the production subsidy for orthodox tea, or tea made following conventional methods of tea production.

"Production subsidies ranging from Rs 7 to Rs 10 per kilogram for traditional and specialty tea are already in the works. But, in honour of Assam Tea's 200th anniversary, I'm happy to announce that an improved production subsidy of Rs 12 per kg will be extended, but only for the present year of 2023–24," she added.

The Finance Minister announced that road shows will also be held all throughout the nation to promote Assam Tea as a brand.

"The growth of the labour lines' infrastructure, particularly the construction of roads, will receive significant attention. This year, the government will waive all past-due power charges for tea garden worker families living in the lines as a special alleviation. I'll set aside Rs. 150 crore for it," she also remarked.

She added that 10,000 homes will also be built in the labour lines. The government would continue to provide gradual assistance to Assam Tea Corporation Limited in order to pay off overdue obligations for interest on provident funds, according to the state's finance minister, who also announced that Rs 100 crores would be set aside for the purpose.

Also, the state government has already included Rs 200 crore in this year's budget for the construction of 500 Mahaprabhu Jagannath Community Halls and Skill Centers at key tea garden locations.

Also Read: Assam: HSLC Paper Leak Is Government’s Failure, Says CM

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