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Jaitley's call to make plantation sector competitive

By D. Radhakrishnan

The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Arun Jaitley, (right), inaugurating the 110th annual conference of UPASI in Coonoor.

UDHAGAMANDALAM SEPT. 27. The 110th annual conference of the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Law and Justice and Commerce and Industry, Arun Jaitley, at Coonoor today amid high expectations from various sections of the tea industry in general and the 65,000 small tea growers in particular.

Though the much anticipated "basket of goodies" from Mr. Jaitley was conspicuous by its absence in his address, he conceded that there was a crisis situation as far as tea was concerned and it was in need of help. He hinted that a meeting with the Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, was on the cards to evolve ways to help those who were among the worst affected by the crisis. Apart from representatives of the Commerce Ministry those from the industry would be invited to participate in the meeting. Expressing the hope that the Finance Minister would be sympathetic, he said that the Commerce Ministry would espouse the cause of the planters. Mr. Jaitley, however called on the stake holders in the plantation sector to collectively make the sector competitive and added that transient measures could at best be temporary. Pointing out that he had come here for a first hand feel of the situation, he said that the government would try its best to address all the problems at the earliest. "Tea is an area of serious concern to all of us", he added.

The President of UPASI, P.S.Walia, who presided appealed to the Commerce Ministry to expeditiously provide adequate finances from the Plan funds and the Additional Excise Duty Fund for generic promotion of tea in the home market. Adverting to the presence of a tea delegation from Pakistan at the Conference, he urged the Commerce Ministry to support the industry by working out an appropriate trade agreement with Pakistan which would be in the mutual interest of both the countries and lead to larger trade. He expressed concern over the reported move of the Tea Board to recommend to the Commerce Ministry 100 per cent mandatory sales through auctions. "UPASI is totally opposed to any move towards curtailing the freedom of the producers on the marketing front", he stressed.

The Additional Secretary, Commerce, L. V. Saptharishi said that a Technology Mission Approach was needed for Tea. The Nilgiris MP, Master Mathan also spoke. The Vice President, UPASI, B. B. Medaiah proposed a vote of thanks.

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