Tea meet apprehensions

Guwahati , Assam : The Assam Tea Tribes Students Association has expressed apprehensions that the International Tea Convention, slated to be held in November, could end up doing more harm than good for the image of the state as well as the tea industry.

“When foreign delegates visit tea gardens — as they are scheduled to do — they will see for themselves the unhygienic living conditions of the tea garden laborers. This will not only give Assam a bad name, it might even have an adverse impact on business,” association general secretary Pallab Das said.

He pointed out that many developed countries just might not want to buy tea from a place where laborers lived and worked in such unhygienic conditions.

“These countries are very sensitive to such issues,” he argued, adding that given the tough competition faced by Indian tea in the international market, projection of such an image could very well ring the death knell for the industry.

Assam will host the International Tea Convention for the first time this year. The four-day convention will be held simultaneously in Guwahati and Jorhat.

A host of foreign delegates is expected to participate in the event. Hollywood actress Julie Christie, who was born in a tea estate in Assam, will be the guest of honor.

Source: The Telegraph