GUWAHATI, April 26 � The declaration of tea as the National Drink of India is long overdue as no other drink can come even closer to tea in the country, observed the chairman of the Tea Board, MGVK Bhanu. He also said that the declaration of tea as the National Drink would not only give due recognition to tea, but it would also help in increasing exports.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the Tea Board chairman said that the Board has already adopted a resolution, demanding declaration of tea as the National Drink. The Board has also written to the Government in this regard and Bhanu hoped that the Government of India would take necessary steps in this regard soon.
Bhanu pointed out that the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission recently announced that tea would be made the National Drink, �which gave us a ray of hope.�
Justifying the demand for declaration of tea as National Drink, the Tea Board chairman said that according to an estimate, more than 83 per cent of the total population of India drink tea and no other drink can come even closer to tea in this regard. He said that India is the largest producer of black tea in the world and wide varieties of tea are produced in different parts of the country. The quality of tea produced in one part of the country is totally different from the other and over the years, tea has become a part of life of the people of India.
Bhanu pointed out that tea has also become a part of India�s culture and even a number of popular Bollywood numbers are based on tea. Under the circumstances, the demand for declaration of tea as the National Drink of India is very much justified, he added.
On the benefits of declaration of tea as the National Drink, Bhanu said that around 20 million people are dependent on the tea industry and a boost to the industry would be beneficial for all those people. He pointed out that such a declaration would give tea the recognition it deserves and it would help in promoting tea and increasing production and sale. He said that tea can also be marketed as a health drink because of its good qualities, while there is no ill effect of drinking tea.
