Skip to content Skip to navigation

Small tea growers of Assam face uncertain future

More than sixty five thousand small tea growers of Assam are facing uncertain future due to unilateral decision of state government, imposing surcharge on green tea leaves at the rate of 20 paisa per kg in addition to a fine of Rs 200 per Bigha, with effect from July 1, 2003. For more than three decades since the year 1978, indigenous youths of Assam with their capital and labor established more than 65 thousand small tea gardens in the state. These tea growers through schemes of self-employment, earned livelihood for their families. Besides that, they provided indirect rehabilitation to about nine lakhs people. These tea farmers helped in building socio-economic structure by producing twenty nine percent teas produced in the state of Assam and fourteen percent of India. It also protected the land in use by small tea farming around state tea borders.


Depending upon the green leaves from the small farmers 220 brought-leaves factories came up in the state. The small tea growers have been supplying green leaves to about 300 factories. It is a matter of great regret that even after six decades of independence of the country the indigenous people of this state have not been given settlement of land.


Out of 65,000 unsettled small tea farmers only 3,000 have got registration with the Tea Board of India. These small farmers are in position to get monetary assistance from the financial institutions. In the neighboring Arunachal Pradesh, all small tea growers even got registration with the Tea Board, as they have been given settlement of land. It may be mentioned in this connection that In Tamil Nadu out of 63,000 farmers all are registered with Tea Board.


All Assam Small Tea Growers Association (AASTGA), an organization of small tea growers established in 1987, appealed to the state government, chief minister and high officials, several times and launched agitation, had discussions, but it did not get any fruitful results. All efforts had gone to deaf ears. On the other hand by increasing revenue and fine, the government is trying to deprive them getting even their livelihood.


It may be added in this context that in the budget of 2008-09, there was a proposal to collect surcharge of 20 paisa per kg from the purchaser. But the Assam Taxation (on Specified Land Amendment) Act 2009, this tax is being collected from the small tea growers only. The Brahmaputra Valley tea growers have to pay this tax at the rate of 32 paisa per kg and the Barak Valley farmers @ 29 paisa. In contrast of this the big tea gardens having more than thousand Bigha of land are exempted, while small tea growers having below 75 Bighas are affected by imposition of surcharge at the rate of 20 paisa per kg.


According to Land Reforms Act 1997, the small farmers having land up to 30 Bigha were exempted from all type of taxation. During last decade the rate of tea leaves produced by small farmers was Rs.8 per kg, whereas the production cost of green leaves was Rs.7, 50. The production per Bigha varies from 800 to 1500 kgs. Keeping the average production at 1200 kgs too, the expenditure on production comes to Rs.9,000 and income; Rs.9,600 With this income of Rs.600 per Bigha on 30 Bigha land, total earning comes to Rs.18,000 annually, which is not sufficient to support even a small family.


The AASTGA, representing the small tea growers recently in an interaction with media revealed that the present chief minister, Tarun Gogoi, erstwhile the leader of opposition on September 4, 2000, had assured the agitating small tea growers, that if his government came to power, he would redress all the problems, but after completing two terms as chief minister, he has forgotten those assurances.


Comments

Thomas Ninan's picture

This act will be having a negative economical effect in assams development.As Agricultural income in theses area is too poor,the people do cutivate Tea in high area and more or less its a family affair to educate their chidren in institution outside Assam ,as the educational infrastructure is too poor in Assam. The state is fast comming out of insurgency and the Babus at the helm of this should understand these basic ideas before falling on being tax neutral for the state
christine jeffees's picture

It is a disgrace that the Indian Government allows this to go on. The rest of the world should be informed.

Pages

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Children education programme in Garbhanga

25 Jan 2009 - 2:24pm | editor
Cotton College Women Forum (CCWF) member visite today to Garbhanga villages to see Parijat Academy's outreach children education programme. Four member ( CCWF) visited they are Mrs Nadita...

GNLA militant killed

31 Mar 2013 - 10:35pm | AT News
Security forces killed a GNLA militant at an encounter in Goalpara district on Sunday.According to police, the two GNLA cadres, riding a bike, fired at the security when they were intercepted by the...

Padmanav mesmerized London's stage with golden oldie

17 Sep 2009 - 1:33am | Rini Kakati
On 25 August, 2009, Nehru Centre (the cultural wing of Indian High Commission) in London presented a stunning confluence of modern and classical music which mirrored the age-old timeless tradition of...

Ray of Hope: Centre-UPDS negotiation today in Delhi

10 Apr 2008 - 3:17pm | editor
The United Peoples’ Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) is all se to hold negotiation with the Centre on in Delhi Thursday. According to information, the historic talk is set to begin at 5 in the...

Other Contents by Author

Assam Government has given a work order for construction of a ropeway project over Urvashi river Island to M/s Samir Damodar Ropeway Pvt Ltd; who have constructed four big size RCC pillars in the Umananda Island to install high structure for ropeway project. Getting this information a team of a NGO, namely, Citizens’ First, consisting of Ajay Dutta, Ex- MLA, Krishna Kanto Borooah, Jagannath Das, General Secretary of the Forum and renowned archaeologist, Dr Pradip Sarma, visited the site of construction on the Umananda Island and found that the said company has already occupied a portion of the island and piled deep inside its rock bed to raise RCC pillars. By its such act, the...
The people of Assam are likely to face serious flood and erosion during the new-year 2012 due to reluctance of state governments to take necessary steps to tackle the situation, despite the demand of All Assam Water Resource Contractors’ Association (AAWRCA). Speaking to the media people recently, Muhi Bargohain, President of AAWRCA, alleged that the state’s water resource department has not taken any step to get last year’s damaged embankments repaired till now. It is learnt that Assam’s Revenue and Finance departments have not approved the schemes related to it. It is well known fact that the northern districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh and Shivsagar etc...
Protest against use of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, has shifted from extreme northeastern part of the country to the remote northern part. Now, demands are high by the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, to withdraw at least partially, the aforesaid Act, from his state in order to bring peace in the troubled region of the country. It is alleged that in guise of the search for militants, the security personnel are misusing the Act and ‘harassing and torturing’ the innocent people of the state. The Union government is now facing an embarrassing situation due the state’s demand. Similar demand for withdrawal of the AFSP Act1958 is long...
History repeats itself and it seems that our Union government is trying to get it repeated as early as possible by allowing foreign investments in every sector of industries and agriculture as well. The Union Cabinet by justifying 51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail trade has proved that it has no regards either for the poor people of the country or the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who cherished a dream to bring ‘Ram Rajya’ in the country by his followers. Now, the country is moving head very fast to ‘Ravan Rajya’. It has to be mentioned that Mahatma’s name is being utilized by our leaders to save the ‘corrupt politicians...
The anti-corruption movement launched by the Gandhian leader, Anna Hazare, has threatened a number of politicians, bureaucrats and big businessmen involved in various financial crimes against the country and the society. The issue of black money in Swiss banks and calling back the same to the country for investment and prosperity of the nation, has also threatened them of losing their unfair incomes. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress party, has been found involved in the practices leading to great sufferings of the countrymen. The Civil Society’s proposal in respect of the Lokpal Bill, has been ‘turned down’ by the Union cabinet...
Reacting to the recent ‘blatant lies’ of the Assam Power Minister, Pradyut Bardoloi, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi made it clear that he is not opposed to the demand and need of power for the state, but he wanted to know the ‘secrets of the deal’ which made the state government to ignore all the facts related to the geographical and environmental needs of Assam. Addressing the media persons in Guwahati recently, the RTI activist, Akhil Gogoi said that the power minister had given the history of Lower Subansiri Project. He said an unknown fact of this history was that the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report of October 2001 gave rank...
Yoga Guru Ramdeva fighting to get back the Indian’s black money in the foreign banks to the country continued his fast from June 4, had to give up on 9th on demand of millions of countrymen, who wanted his precious life to be utilized in the welfare of mankind. His tirade against the ‘unholy’ politicians and bureaucrats, who are involved in top-level corruption continued during his fast and none of high- level officials approached to solve the issues raised by him. This was interpreted by a section of the society as the government was not interested in bringing back the black money in the country. Even the government was not interested to reveal the names of such persons,...
The Gauhati High Court directed petitioners Asian Centre for Human Rights and others in PIL No.6/2011 to provide practical and workable solutions to the issue of displacement of the Rabhas and Garos as submitted before the Court pursuant to the respondents States of Assam and Meghalaya and the Union Home Ministry within a week to act upon. It had earlier directed the petitioners on January 22 last to submit practical and workable solutions. Addressing the media persons the petitioner, Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights said that he appeared in person before the Chief Justice, Madan B Lokur. The matter is listed for May 2011 after the state governments take necessary...
National Election Watch (NEW), a nationwide campaign comprising of more than 1200 NGOs and other citizen-led organizations working on electoral reforms, improving democracy and governance in India, has stepped up the pressure on political parties to demand accountability from them in the state of Assam as well. It announced several initiatives with the purpose of bringing transparency and accountability in the political system on February 17 last through a press conference organized in Guwahati Press Club. Addressing the media persons the coordinator of the Assam Election Watch, Tasaduk Ariful Hussain, said that different civil society organizations, eminent citizens, media, senior...
Trade is the ‘spinal cord’ of a country’s economy and the traders are its protectors. It was said at a time, when our traders were among the most trusted nationals, who scarified all their earnings of life and belongings, when the country needed it. Now, the time has changed and the national feelings in the trading community have gradually diminished. ’Honesty’ the essence of the trade has lost its value and it is no more the ‘best policy’ in the trade. Majority of the traders feel difficulty in surviving, if they try to be honest in the present political situation of the country. They have to oblige political leaders and parties, some of whom...