GUWAHATI, Nov 23 - The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has lowered the mandatory sale of tea by the bought leaf tea factory through the public auction system to 50 per cent. This step of the Union Commerce Ministry is a fallout of the letter written by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. The Union Ministry has made this decision public through a gazette notification, said an official press release here today.
Earlier, the Central Government, through a notification on April 15, 2015, had made the sale of 70 per cent of tea manufactured by the bought leaf tea factory through the public auction system mandatory. This was regarded as a blow to the interests of the planters and small tea growers. In response to the April 15, 2015 notification, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi sent a letter to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry raising concerns over the adverse impact of the notification on the small tea growers.
However, taking cognizance of the Chief Minister�s letter, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry slashed the mandatory sale of tea of the bought leaf tea factory through the public auction system to 50 per cent.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Nirmala Sitharaman wrote a letter to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi apprising him about her Ministry�s decision. Gogoi while acknowledging the Union Minister�s gesture, said that the State will be working relentlessly for the interests of the marginalised farmers and small tea growers in future too.
