As the tea industry in Bengal and Assam grapples with a production crisis due to climate change, the Tea Research Association (TRA) has introduced the first climate-smart tea seed stock, TSS-2, to combat the adverse effects of rising temperatures.
According to Mr Dasgupta, the management of the Mujnai Tea Estate has also not turned up yet despite several reminders.
Mr Kamakhya Tasa, MP, thanked the industry for paying bonus at higher rates in spite of difficult times.
The industry has been facing a crisis due to oversupply in global tea production.
ITA appealed to the government via newspapers saying that the industry is in a crisis. ITA has also demanded substantial funds for generic promotion of tea in India. and Minimum Reserve Price for tea auction based on cost of production.
Meanwhile, the Joint Forum, a conglomeration of over 23 trade unions, will hold a meeting on 14 July and discuss many issues, including additional financial burden on the tea industry, it is learnt.
As per prevalent practice, workers avail of unpaid holidays during Fagua, Kali Puja and Durga Puja, in addition to other paid holidays. According to planters, this practice has been leading to losses in the production in tea industry.
Official sources said the meeting is significant as it will review the entire scenario of plantations, including the plight and sentiment of the workers, before fixation of a minimum wage structure for the tea industry.
