Udalguri-Sonitpur, July 17: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday held a meeting with representatives of three major small tea growers’ organisations at Janata Bhawan in Dispur and announced the formation of a special Cabinet committee to address their long-pending demands.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the North East Confederation Small Tea Growers’ Association, Kshudra Cha Khetiyak Parishad, Assam, and the All Bodoland Small Tea Growers’ Association. MLA Bhupen Kumar Bora was also present during the discussions.
The delegation highlighted several issues concerning the welfare and development of small tea growers. Among the key demands were the establishment of mini tea factories, promotion of mechanisation in tea cultivation, improved irrigation facilities, development of drainage infrastructure, better maintenance of tea plantations, issuance of land pattas to growers, establishment of laboratories to test banned pesticides, and reduction of electricity tariffs for small tea processing units.
Responding to the demands, the Chief Minister announced that a special Cabinet committee would be constituted to ensure the speedy resolution of the issues. The committee will comprise two Cabinet ministers and one senior MLA, and will examine each issue in detail before implementing appropriate measures in a phased manner.
Representatives of the three organisations welcomed the announcement and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, stating that the decision marked a positive step towards addressing the long-standing concerns of Assam’s small tea growers.
