Gogoi asks Sitharaman to appoint a regular chairman for Tea Board

Says a regular chairman would ensure long-term success and competitive viability of the Indian tea industry

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has asked the Union ministry of commerce and industry to "take steps" for appointing a regular chairman of Tea Board of India.

Gogoi said a regular chairman would "ensure long-term success and competitive viability of the Indian tea industry". In a letter written to Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday, Union commerce and industry minister, Gogoi said appointing a regular chairman was needed to pay "specific attention" to the welfare of workers, growers, packers and consumer needs.

He also sought the intervention of the Union minister for filling up the post of an executive director in Assam which is lying vacant for the last two years. Referring to the reported move of shifting of the office of the executive director of the Tea Board from Jorhat to Guwahati, Gogoi said such move would be "retrogressive" as Jorhat is the hub of tea producing belt of Assam.

"Moreover, the move is likely to harm the interests of a large number of entrepreneurs as they would be deprived of the services of the Tea Board," Gogoi said.

The Chief Minister also drew the attention of the Union minister to the fact that the post of director of small tea growers was yet to be filled up since its inception three years back.

In yet another state government's bid to reinforce Assam tea's position internationally, the chief minister urged the Union minister to enlist 'tea' as a state subject. He also said that pending status of a substantial chunk of applications for setting up of Bought Leaf Tea Factories (BLTF) with the Tea Board was affecting the state's tea industry. He said the delay in taking decision on such issues was "putting hurdles" on the performance of state's tea industry.