ABSTRACT

Small Industries – Small Tea Growers Protection Scheme - Relief to the Small Tea Growers of The Nilgiris District affected by steep fall in price of tea - Sanctioned - Orders - Issued.

SMALL INDUSTRIES (SIA) DEPARTMENT

G.O.(Ms).NO. 62                                                   DATED: 13.7.2005

READ:-

From the Collector of The Nilgiris District Lr.Rc.No.D8.No.68389/2004, dated 21.6.2005.

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ORDER:

The Small Tea growers in The Nilgiris District have been greatly affected by the decline in prices accompanied by pronounced slumps completely threatening their livelihood. A major slump has now occurred in the prices of tea. The price fetched by green tea leaves has gone down below Rs.4 per kg. This is affecting more than 60000 small tea growers in The Nilgiris District. In view of the recent steep fall in the tea prices, the Collector of The Nilgiris District has requested the Government to intervene in the matter and to safeguard the small tea growers against the adverse effects of this fall in prices.

2. The Government have carefully examined the request of the Collector of The Nilgiris district and decided to implement a scheme called "Small Tea Growers Protection Scheme" for the benefit of the small tea growers in The Nilgiris district as a State Scheme from July 2005. The relief will be reckoned on acreage basis and given based on green tea leaves production for a period of six months. Thus the relief per acre would be Rs.2800/- and the scheme would cover small tea growers who own / operate up to 25 acres. For reckoning the total area owned / operated by a small tea grower the methodology adopted by Tea Board for disbursing subsidy in the earlier occasions shall be followed and eligible acerage determined. The anticipated expenditure would be Rs.28 crores to cover about one lakh acres. The subsidy amount will be distributed in one lump-sum by the District Administration directly to farmers in consultation with INDCOSERVE and other departments concerned. The Government have accordingly decided to sanction a sum of Rs.28 crores towards implementing the Scheme.

3. Sanction is accorded for incurring an expenditure of Rs.28 crores (Rupees twenty eight crores only) for implementation of the Small Tea Growers Protection Scheme mentioned in para 2 above.

4. The expenditure sanctioned in para 3 above shall be debited to a new sub head of account to be opened under Demand No. 42, Small Industries Department as detailed below:

"2851-00-Village and Small Industries-102. Small Scale Industries - Schemes in the Tenth Five Year Plan - II State Plan - LW. Small Tea Growers Protection Scheme - 09. Grants-in-aid-1. Grants for current expenditure" (DPC 2851 00 102 LW 0917)

5. The Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce is the estimating, reconciling and controlling authority for the above new head of account. The Pay and Accounts Officer / Treasury Officer concerned is requested to open the above new head of account in their accounts.

6. The expenditure sanctioned in para 3 above shall constitute an item of new service and approval of the Legislature will be obtained in due course. Pending approval of the Legislature the expenditure will be met by an advance from the Contingency Fund, orders regarding this will be issued by the Finance (BG.I) Department separately. The Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce shall apply to the Government in Finance (BG.I) Department in the prescribed proforma along with this order for the sanction of an advance from the Contingency Fund. The Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce shall also send necessary draft Explanatory Notes for the inclusion of the above expenditure in the First Supplementary Estimate 2005-06 without fail.

7. The Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce is authorised to draw and disburse the amount sanctioned in para 3 above to the Collector of The Nilgiris District who will disburse the amount to all eligible small tea growers as stated in para 2 above. The Collector of The Nilgiris District is also requested to send a report on the implementation of the scheme to Government through the Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce.

8. This order issues with the concurrence of Finance department vide its U.O.No.2425/FS/P/2005, dated 13.7.2005 and the Additional Sanction Ledger No.361.

(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)

D. RAJENDRAN,
SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT.

To

The Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce, Chennai -5.

The Collector of The Nilgiris District, Ootacamund.

The Special Officer, INDCOSERVE, Coonoor 643 101.

The Accountant General, Chennai - 6/18/35.

The Accountant General, Chennai - 6/18/35(BN)

The Pay and Accounts Officer (E), Chennai - 5

Copy to:

The Finance (BG.I) / (BG.II) / Industries Department, Chennai -9.
All Sections in Small Industries Department.
SF/SC.

//FORWARDED BY ORDER//

SECTION OFFICER