DDUDF takes up Tea, Cinchona and Jelep la Issues with Commerce and Industry Minister

The DDUDF Founder Trustee Prof Mahendra P Lama had a detail discussion meeting with Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Commerce and Industry at her office in Udyog Bhawan in New Delhi. The meeting mainly centred round issues on Darjeeling and Dooars Tea industry and the implementation of minimum wages act in these tea gardens. In this regard she mentioned that the minimum wages act have already been implemented by their respective governments in the tea growing areas in South India. In the course of discussion it was quite clear that it is West Bengal government which has to implement the minimum wages act in the tea gardens. However both the Left Front led Government and the present Trinamul Party led government are not interested and unwilling to implement this vital act because of reasons not known. She also mentioned that 17 tea gardens in Dooars and Darjeeling which are dysfunctional at the moment are being revived on an urgent basis. She also mentioned that in the Guwahati meeting with the trade union which she attended in October 2014 there was just one representative from whole of Darjeeling tea industry. She mentioned that the Union Government is very keen to implement minimum wages act in the whole of tea industry including in Darjeeling and Dooars. The pressure has not been created for this purpose at the state level.

Dr. Mahendra P Lama Meets Minister Nirmala Sitharaman - Takes up Tea, Cinchona and Jelep la Issues

Prof Lama also apprised her of how Nathu la Trade route was reopened after 44 years in 2006 and what benefits it could bring to the people of the region. In this context the popular demand of the people of North Bengal to reopen the Jelep la trade route which was more vibrant and prolific was also emphasised upon. Minister did mention that her Ministry would look into the entire gamut of issues.

There was also a brief discussion on the present poor state of Cinchona plantation and urgent need to revive the same as one of the modern industries based on traditional medicinal practices. In this regard, the demand made in the Memorandum was also discussed.

The DDUDF also demanded that the incentive given to the industrial set up in the North East region since 2007 should be extended to Darjeeling and Dooars till at least 2017. The Minister has assured to look into the matter. The DDUDF invited her to visit Darjeeling and Dooars in near future.

The DDUDF submitted to the Minister a comprehensive note on these issues.

[DDUDF PR]

Share this: