New Delhi, May 16 (KNN) The long pending Indian Tea Board’s proposed “Development and Promotion” scheme with a planned outlay of around Rs 400 crore has finally got Government approval.

The scheme which was proposed for the development of small tea growers will remain effective till the end of 2019-20 FY, which includes organized as well as small growers both.

The Rs 394.95 crore, scheme has seven major components which includes Plantation Development, Quality Upgradation and Product Diversification, Market Promotion, Research and Development, Human Resource Development, National Program for Tea Regulation and Establishment Expenses.

Under this scheme eligible plantations will get subsidy, incentives and grants for conducting various activities in above mentioned components.

The objective of the “Development Component” of the schemes is to increase field productivity and quality of tea by encouraging re-plantation, replacement planting, rejuvenation pruning, irrigation, mechanization, according to S. Soundararajan, Director of Tea Development, ITB.

Specific regions like North East, Idukki district of Kerela, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will receive special packages that have been devised for meeting the special needs of these regions.

Second Component of the scheme aims towards showcasing India’s diversified portfolio of single-origin teas, which includes Darjeeling, Assam, Assam Orthodox, Nilgiri, Nilgiri Orthodox, Dooars-Terai, and are known for their distinctive aroma & flavor.

A set garden must be registered with Tea Board in order to become eligible for benefits under the scheme.

For this, Small grower applicants and their self-help groups should have ITB issued identity and proper documents related to their plantation land.

However, the scheme involves strict checkpoints too, for example any plantation with more than Rs 10,000 provident fund over dues will be barred from the benefits of the scheme. (KNN/YV)