Tea industry rues absence of permanent Tea Board chairman

Indian Tea Association has said the industry is suffering due to absence of a permanent chairman of the Tea Board for the last three years.
"There is no permanent chairman of Tea Board since the last three years after MGVK Bhanu. This is seriously affecting the functioning of the tea industry," a senior official of the Indian Tea Association (ITA) told PTI.
The official said the role of the chairman is to assist the industry in various issues and then to take it up with the government.
"When there was a permanent incumbent, the industry was able to knock at the door of the chairman at ease and get the issues redressed," the official said.

But in the absence of a permanent chairman, things were getting delayed inordinately as exchanges had to be done between Kolkata and Delhi.
Presently, the joint secretary with the commerce ministry, Santosh Sarangi, is officiating as chairman of the Tea Board.

Past chairman of ITA, who is the CEO & MD of Goodricke Group, A N Singh said the industry was getting affected very much due to the absence of a permanent chairman.
"There is a lot of things which need to be consulted on almost on a regular basis. We don't know whom to approach," Singh said.
"The prices are falling, there is no interaction with the board on this important issue. It is believed that the post of the chairman is being downgraded to that of a deputy chairman, which is also an IAS officer," he added.