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The Tea Affiliation of India (TAI) has referred to as on the poll-bound Assam authorities to handle considerations over an amended legislation giving plantation staff the best to land on tea estates.
In February, the Bharatiya Janata Celebration-led state authorities amended the Assam Land Holding Ceilings Act, giving authorized land rights to three.5 million plantation staff in additional than 800 tea estates within the state.
Talking on the thirty seventh biennial normal assembly of the affiliation’s Assam chapter, TAI president Shaiya Mehta welcomed the federal government’s intention to supply land title deeds to plantation staff. Nonetheless, she highlighted sure administrative and authorized complexities.
She mentioned many tea plantations had mortgaged land as safety for loans and transferring such land may create monetary and authorized issues.
“Moreover, the Land Ceiling Act solely applies to land and to not corporate-built property resembling employee settlements. Due to this fact, ample compensation needs to be ensured primarily based on the best to truthful compensation and transparency within the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013,” Mehta mentioned.
He additionally emphasised authorized obligations. “Underneath the Occupational Security, Well being and Working Situations Act 2020 (previously the Plantation Labor Act 1951), administration stays chargeable for housing and welfare amenities. Transferring land with out corresponding legislative amendments may lead to persevering with legal responsibility to administration,” she mentioned.
Labor legislation adjustments
The affiliation additionally expressed concern in regards to the labor legislation reforms that may come into power in November 2025, noting that just about 60% of tea manufacturing prices are labor-related. It referred to as on the federal government to completely acknowledge advantages in variety in wage calculations, fairly than limiting them to fifteen%.
“Nonetheless, the tea trade continues to have a major duty to supply advantages in variety below the Occupational Well being, Security and Working Situations Act, resulting in duplication of monetary burdens and impacting sustainability,” Mehta mentioned.
TAI has referred to as for lifting of the pending subsidy below the Assam Tea Trade Particular Incentive Scheme and warned that any delay may have an effect on the monetary stability of the trade.
The affiliation additionally expressed concern about geopolitical tensions and potential disruption in main markets, together with Iran, Iraq, the UAE and China, amid reviews of a attainable closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It warned that any disruption may have an effect on export volumes, transport routes and costs.
India’s tea exports reached a report 280 million kg in 2025, producing Rs 8,488 million.
