Assam's Innovation & Transformation Aayog to make an action plan to vitalise Tea Corp estates

GUWAHATI: State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA) to make an action plan to vitalise the Assam Tea corporation (ATC) tea estates.

SITA organised a meeting on Tea Gardens with Industry & Commerce Department, Government of Assam Dr. Mridul Hazarika, Advisor SITA, gave the introductory speech about SITA and issues related to the TEA Gardens with special emphasis of ATC Tea Gardens. He spoke on the challenges and needs of innovative approach to improve the productivity and profitability of tea industry at large and ATC in particular.

Rani Katharpi, Secretary, Industry & Commerce & MD, ATC, explained the background of ATC and the present scenario of the Tea Gardens. Later Dr. K.M Bujarbaruah, Advisor and Kashi Nath Hazarika, Advisor expressed their views on the need for identifying the specific issues and challenges to enhance revenue and streamline operational systems to achieve the industry benchmarks for consolidating growth potential of the corporation. Later, the representatives of the Tea Gardens highlighted their issues relating to production and productivity, diversification of business, revisiting of MoU, relating to reemployment in the gardens.

Many ideas emerged during discussion on cost rationalisation, alternative revenue generation, and increase in productivity etc. It was felt that an action plan needs to be drawn for the ATC gardens to achieve their potentiality. Alternative cropping, fishery and other revenue generating schemes have been mooted during the interaction.

SITA will prepare an action plan based on the suggestion received during the interaction and will be submitted to appropriate authority for needful action.