Announcement of 200 crore package for tea industry

(Pooja Dubey, Intern Journalist) The Assam government on Friday announced an incentive package of Rs 200 crore for the state’s tea industry, including a three-year exemption in agricultural income tax to promote the sector. Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the tea industry in the state has been going through a difficult phase for the last few years and tea gardens were also closed due to ‘lockdown’.

“There is a need to bring the tea industry out of the crisis in the state and we are giving four incentives which will ensure that they remain economically viable,” he said at a press conference. It has been decided to provide a three percent interest subsidy on working capital with a maximum limit of Rs. Lakh and tax holiday for three years on agricultural income. Sarma said that orthodox tea is mostly exported and the government has decided that attention should be paid to increasing its production.

The minister said, “The state government has decided to give a subsidy of Rs. 7 per kg on this and the total subsidy of Rs. 10 per kg, including the Tea Board’s subsidy of Rs. 3 per kg, will definitely increase production and export of Orthodox tea.” Will be helpful in increasing. He said that 25 percent of capital subsidy will also be given by the state government to set up the necessary plant and machinery for the production of Orthodox tea.

Sarma said, “In this way, a total of 200 crores will be spent on this by the state government and we are announcing with the hope that the tea garden administration without any unnecessary dispute will give a bonus to the workers on their fortification. Will ensure payment.

Assam Tea Corporation, owned by the state government, has already announced a 20 percent bonus for its employees. It is expected that other tea gardens will also make such an announcement. The Finance Minister said that the state government has also decided to increase the ration allowance for Assam Police soldiers from Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000. This facility will also be given to the Forest Police Battalion.