Darj Tea Assn warns gardens over green leaf purchase - Bista raises hill garden issues

SNS, DARJEELING, 10 SEPTEMBER 20: Darjeeling Tea Association, which has a majority of tea gardens in the hills as its members, today said that some gardens here had been illegally purchasing green leaf from "outside GI boundaries," and asked them to refrain from such activities.The DTA also said that it would inform the Tea Board of any such act if not stopped immediately.

The DTA statement follows a recent letter from the Tea Board of India (TBI), which maintains that it has been receiving reports and complaints that green leaf sourced from outside the GI area are being processed by some manufacturers.

"DTA has both relentlessly pursuing the interest of Darjeeling tea industry, and along with the Tea Board, got the industry covered under the Geographical Indication Act and Certified Trade Mark for Darjeeling tea. It is of utmost importance that pure and original Darjeeling tea reaches the connoisseurs both domestically and internationally," DTA Chairman BK Saria said.

Incidentally,in the past, the DTA has been alleging illegal import of tea from Nepal.

"However, we as an association and its members, note with deep regret that the Tea Board has pointed out illegal activities by some Darjeeling gardens with respect to purchase of green leaf from outside the GI boundaries. We urge upon all members to refrain from such activity. We as an association for the well-being of all members will be proactive and will inform the Tea Board of any such acts without fear or favour to anyone. We, the DTA governing body, request all the estates, whether our member or otherwise, to respect the law and stop these illegal activities," he added.

The DTA maintained that it has been pursuing the implementation of this Act INA"' the Tea Board and through social media, educating the public about the virrtues of Darjeeling Tea and the GI Act.

On the other hand, the letter from the TBI to the DTA dated 10 September, states that for protecting the purity, potency, reputation, name and fame of Darjeeling tea, the Board had taken a plethora of protections registration as Geographical Indication, Protected Geographical Indication, Certification Trade Mark, Trade Mark and Copy Right under various jurisdictions. It adds that it has also started issuing permission to producers, packers, exporters, and retailers to use the logo and word mark of Darjeeling.

"Moreover, a trade chain integrity system was set up and all certificate of origin was issued based on this system. For successful implementation of this system, the Board has also obtained undertaking from each of the 87 gardens, certifying that none of the garden shall purchase any green leaf from any garden located beyond the demarcated geographical area of Darjeeling GI, failing which the Board shall be at liberty to initiate civil and criminal action against the errant gardens," the letter says.

The TBI also says that protection of any GI is the responsibility of the producers and their associations.

"Though the Tea Board, being the Regulatory Body under the Tea Act, 1953, took the initiative to get the required protections for Darjeeling tea, the role of the producers of Darjeeling tea and their associations is equally significant for sustaining the work done so far and to move forward," the letter states.

Bista raises hill garden issues

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista today said that he reminded members of the Tea Board of India that according to the United Tea Workers' Front 2017 report, more than 1,000 plantation workers died because of malnutrition and hunger between 2002 and 2014 in West Bengal.

"While 23 plantations were shut, more than one lakh labourers were also rendered jobless. It is beyond my understanding as to how or why we permitted things to come to such a dire state. In our hills, Peshok, Dhotrey, Toongsoong and Panighatta tea estates have remained shut, rendering thousands of people jobless and in dire financial situation," Mr Bista told the 242nd meeting of the Board today.