In this fiscal year, the Tea Board disbursed approximately Rs 13.88 crore subsidies to 1,112 tea farmers, producers, and plantation staff in South India.
Board Executive Director M Balaji reported that a total of 6.32 crore was disbursed to 453 members in the first batch covering April to August. An amount of 7.56 crore has now been disbursed to 659 members in the second batch.
In the second batch, 399 small growers in South India received Rs 1.46 crore subsidies under the Plantation Production Scheme; 46 manufacturers received Rs. 5.73 crore subsidies as an opportunity to manufacture traditional teas; 26 beneficiaries under HRD schemes received Rs. 5 lakh subsidy; 181 beneficiaries under Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan schemes received Rs. 31.76 lakh subsidy; and seven recipients under Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan received Rs. 1.20 lakh.
Balaji claimed that the amount of the subsidy was transferred to the respective bank accounts of the recipient and also sent SMS confirming the same to them.
He said the Tea Board has been providing growers with different subsidies to increase tea production, as well as efficiency and quality of the tea. He also said that the support for the cultivation of orthodox teas is to ensure that growers earn remunerative prices for quality production.
Fiscal support is provided to members of the Self Help Groups of Small Tea Growers to update facilities and to ensure mutual involvement to increase the overall production of tea.
As for plantation workers, he said, kids of such plantation workers are provided with educational stipends and Nehru awards. Financial support is also given to poor people working on plantations for the care of cancer, heart and kidney failure.
