TAI hails Assam budget proposals to help tea industry

Guwahati, March 16: Tea Association of India (TAI)  has welcomed the Assam Govt budget's announcement to bring 436 tea garden schools under the state government management and the proposal to set up 117 model high school in tea estates in the state.

"Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme (ATISIS) is a timely move by the govt to help the ailing industry. The government has already disbursed around Rs 45 crore  till date.," said Dipanjol Deka, Secretary Tea Association of India.

"The budget allocation to tea tourism wherein the tea estates will be provided  with capital infrastructure support for building guest houses/tourist facilities and also undertake non-tea cultivation activities such as agro-forestry, solar power projects etc., to augment their income is appreciated. Hope the gardens will be able to derive benefit of the announcement. An amount upto Rs 2 cr  each to 50 selected gardens would be provided by the government for the purpos," the tea industry official said.