July 27, 2016
Saugata Roy speaks during Zero Hour on reports of shifting Tea Board HQ from Kolkata to Assam
Madam I want to raise an important issue today. The Tea Board of India has been set up under The Tea Act to act as an intermediary between the Ministry of Commerce and the industry. It would collect cess from the industry and distribute the same as subsidy to tea gardens. It would also promote the Indian tea overseas with office in European Union Headquarters in Brussels. The Headquarter of Tea Board is in Kolkata.
Recently, in the name of decentralization, Tea board Headquarters is being denuded of all powers. Large numbers of employees have been transferred all over the India. Recently eleven group D staffs were transferred to Delhi which is against all norms. It seems that there is a conspiracy to shift the Head Office of the tea board from Kolkata to some place in Assam. 29 Tea Board employees were transferred from Kolkata to Assam recently. The ruling party in its Manifesto for Assam elections promised shifting of the Head Office.
Such a move will be opposed by the people and the Government of West Bengal. Before the West Bengal elections, the Commerce Minister had announced that seven tea gardens would be taken over by the Tea Board. Nothing has happened in the matter while workers are starving. I urge upon the Central Government to take immediate steps in the matter.
