A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee increased the limit of the workforce in tea gardens from 15 to 25 per cent amid the nationwide lockdown, the tea industry on Sunday urged the state government to gradually allow up to 50 per cent of the labourers in the plantations.
The chief minister had first allowed the deployment of only 15 per cent of the workforce in the tea gardens, which she increased to 25 per cent on Saturday.
Welcoming the move, Arijit Raha, secretary general of the Indian Tea Association (ITA) told PTI, “The Consultative Committee on Plantation Associations (CCPA) made a representation to the government seeking to allow flexibility in operations within prescribed limits. The increased deployment will help in plucking and ancillary activities.” ITA is a constituent of the CCPA. “We are hopeful that the state government will consider the enhancement of workforce to 50 per cent,” he said.
Rudra Chatterjee, director of Luxmi Group, which owns the Makaibari brand, welcomed the move saying it will help them get a portion of the first flush.
“We will get the entire second flush, the season for which will start from May. The second flush will be protected. Makaibari had fetched the highest price in the history of Darjeeling second flush at USD 1850 per kg,” he said.
Chamong Tea Chairman A Lohia said after the government decided to allow more workforce in the tea gardens, the group has begun plucking in all of its 13 gardens in Darjeeling by following guidelines laid down by the administration.