(a) whether the Government have introduced a Tea Development Scheme;
(b) if so, the main objectives of the scheme;
(c) the tea growing States where the scheme is being implemented; and
(d) the incentives granted to the tea growers under the scheme during last three years, State-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)
(a)&(b) Yes, Sir. In order to promote the development of the tea sector, including improvement in productivity and quality of tea, the Government/Tea Board has implemented various tea developmental schemes which provide financial and technical assistance to the tea industry for encouraging extension planting, re-planting, rejuvenation pruning, infilling, creation of irrigation facilities and drainage, upgradation of tea machinery, R&D etc.
c) & d) : The tea developmental schemes are applicable for all the tea growing States of the country. The financial incentives extended under the various schemes are in the form of term loans and capital subsidy. The region-wise disbursement of loan and subsidy for the last three years in respect of Plan Schemes is as under: -
(in lakh Rupees)
Year North East South India Rest of India
Loan Subsidy Loan Subsidy Loan Subsidy
1998-99 570.55 878.68 163.59 361.93 424.68 438.33 1999-00 530.31 950.78 52.28 369.66 451.51 358.42 2000-01 299.13 1719.28 59.70 461.20 306.15 590.54
Total 1399.99 3548.74 275.57 1192.79 1182.34 1387.29