Tea declared official drink of Assam

tate Cabinet will soon issue formal notification declaring tea as a drink of the state

Giving a big push to the tea industry, Assam government on Monday decided to declare tea as the official drink of the state. A formal notification will be issued in a couple of days, a senior Assam government official informed.

The development comes on the heels of Indian tea industry's move to declare the leaf beverage as the national drink of India.

"The matter (of declaring tea as the drink of the state) was there on the agenda of the cabinet meeting held on Monday and the same has been given an informal approval. A formal government notification will be issued in a day or two declaring tea as the official drink of Assam," informed a senior official of industries department, government of Assam.

The official maintained that tea is drunk by most of the people in Assam and has been a major contributor to the state's economy. "Tea industry in Assam employs close to 550,000 people with 50 per cent women labourers. It is the main contributor to the state's GDP. Hence, it was apt to declare tea as a drink of Assam," the official noted. The 170-years old tea industry in Assam, besides being largest employer it is also non-polluting adds value to the beauty of the state.

Assam produces 54 per cent of country's total tea production of 980 million kgs, while it holds about 13 per cent share in the global tea production, the state government official noted.

Tea industry welcomed the decision of the state government. "We congratulate the government of Assam for support and honour they have given to the tea industry by declaring it the drink of Assam," said Dinesh Bihani, vice chairman, Federation of All India Tea Traders Association (FAITTA).

"Tea is a common man's drink as it is cheapest among all beverages and is easily available any part of the country. We have been making representations to the government for declaring tea as a national drink. But somehow it is getting delayed. Assam government's decision would strengthen our purpose," added Bihani.

It may also be noted that earlier this year, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had supported the industry's move to declare tea as the national drink of India. He also stated that the twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012-2017) would focus on tea.

Also, recently in August, a parliamentary panel has suggested declaring tea as a national drink the growing demand from the consumers and the heritage value it of the leaf beverage. It is also believed that this would help in increasing tea consumption in the country.