Dibrugarh, Aug 24: The All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association (AASTGA), Dibrugarh unit, on Thursday staged a sit-in protest at Chowkidinghee in Dibrugarh over non-fulfilment of their demands.

Holding placards and banners, the members of AASTGA raised slogan against the government and Tea Board. The association also urged the government to consider to enact a law to ensure banning of imported tea leaves in the state.

Rubul Hatibaruah, president of AASTGA, Dibrugarh district, said, “We urge the state government to enact a law to ensure banning of imported tea leaves in Assam. Due to imported tea leaves, the small tea growers of Assam are getting low prices. The green tea leaves are penetrating in Assam market from other states which has created problem for the small tea growers of the state.”

Informing that the small tea growers of Assam are getting Rs 14 to 22 per kg of green tea leaves, he said the variable minimum benchmark price (MBP) for green tea leaves has been between Rs 34 and Rs 38 per kg. He demanded that the tea leaf factories should pay the small tea growers the MBP and higher prices for quality green tea leaves.

He further added, “We are proud of tea industry in Assam completing 200 years and the small tea growers of the state contributing to the industry. We have all along been demanding a minimum price of green tea leaves but nobody has been hearing us. However, our demand continues to fall on the deaf ears of the State government and the Tea Board of India.”

Assam has about 1.22 lakh registered small tea growers who account for 52% of the total tea production in the state. Some 80,000 of these growers are members of the association.

The small tea growers’ body also pointed out that the government has not been extending subsidies or incentives to them despite bringing them under the Industry Department.

“When Sarbananda Sonowal was the chief minister of Assam, the government has assured us that they would provide land pattas for the small tea growers’ of Assam but till date, we are not getting the land pattas. The 25 paise cess which has been deducted by the state government from the small tea growers on green tea leaves and now it has been known that Rs 190 crore has been deposited in government exchequer. We demand that 70% out of Rs. 190 crore should be return to the small tea growers’ for helping them to set up bought leaf tea factory,” said Birinchi Borah, secretary of AASTGA, Dibrugarh district.

The AASTGA also submitted memorandum to Chief Minister of Assam through the District Commissioner.

Also read: Tripura: Ex-Minister and senior minority Cong leader joins BJP ahead of by-elections

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