Tripura, the 5th largest tea producer in India, is poised to make a significant stride in its tea industry with the introduction of its first Tea E-Auction Center, announced Chairman of the Tripura Tea Development Corporation, Samir Ranjan Ghosh on Wednesday.
The initiative comes as a response to the challenges faced by the state’s tea sector, including limited market exposure and high transportation costs to traditional auction centers located in Kolkata and Guwahati. Ghosh emphasized the importance of this move in addressing these issues.
A key obstacle highlighted by Ghosh is the prolonged cycle time from tea dispatch to the release of delivery orders, which averages around 44 days. This delay significantly ties up producers’ working capital, affecting their liquidity and operational efficiency.
In response to these challenges, the state government has taken decisive action to establish an e-auction center equipped with warehouses for tea auctions within Tripura itself. This move is expected to streamline the auction process, reduce turnaround times, and enhance market access for tea producers in the state.
The foundation stone of the e-auction center will be laid by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha at the former office of the Department of Industries and Commerce in Gurkhabasti, Agartala. This marks a significant step forward in the modernization and expansion of Tripura’s tea industry, promising.
In the meantime state BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee said, under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura, significant strides have been made to enhance the living standards of tea garden workers in the state. This was emphasized during a meeting chaired by with the Tea Workers Cell of the party at the State Party headquarters.
Addressing the gathering, Bhattacharjee highlighted the transformative efforts undertaken by the government to uplift the tea garden sector, which was previously neglected. He underscored the government’s commitment to boosting production and promoting Tripura tea, a hallmark of the region’s heritage.
Bhattacharjee outlined various schemes and initiatives launched by the state government aimed at improving the lives of tea garden workers. These include measures such as increasing wages, providing housing, land, toilets, free ration, water, and electricity. He particularly mentioned the Mukhyamantri Cha Sramik Prakalp, a flagship program dedicated to the welfare of tea garden workers.
Furthermore, Bhattacharjee noted that essential welfare cards, including Ayushman Card, BPL Card, and Ration Card, have been distributed to tea garden workers, ensuring access to healthcare and other essential services.
In an appeal to the tea garden workers and their families, the state BJP president urged them to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He emphasized that continued support for the BJP-led government at the center would sustain the momentum of development in Tripura, further improving the lives of its residents, including tea garden workers.
