Dimapur, February 19 (MExN): The Kisan & Khet Mazdoor of the Congress unit of Nagaland is unhappy at the “repeated failures of the concerned authority with the reports of incomplete inspection of plantations in all the districts by the development officers of the board.” Chairperson of the cell M. Shami Angh appended the “open letter” which was received here, addressed to the Tea Board of India and “concerned authority in Nagaland.”
The letter said the Nagaland Small Tea Growers’ Association, chairmen of all the eleven districts’ Kisan and Khet Mazdoor units and farmers held a ‘review meeting’ on February 15. The letter explained in one length: The meeting expressed “serious discontentment over the repeated failures of the concerned authority with the reports of incomplete inspection of plantations in all the districts by the development officers of the board with inefficient technical assessment team, NE branch and non-release of backlog subsidies under 9th and 10th plan period.”
“In spite of the UPA government’s various noble initiatives, the concerned department under the Nagaland state government and the Tea Board of India have not been good stewards in communicating, implementing and materializing the benefits to the deserving farmers,” the letter said.
Memorandums have already been “drafted” to the governor, executive director of Tea Board of India and “all concerned authorities” the letter said. However, the “scenario continues to be bleak” and the grievances of the tea growers are being taken for granted since 2005, the letter said.
“As I share my grievance along with the rest of the tea growers in Nagaland, it is also my humble plea to the authorities to produce a concrete statement in order to clear off all the apprehensions and release the subsidies at the earliest lest the growing frustrations could lead to farmers’ agitation and further unwanted consequences,” the letter added.
The letter said the Nagaland Small Tea Growers’ Association, chairmen of all the eleven districts’ Kisan and Khet Mazdoor units and farmers held a ‘review meeting’ on February 15. The letter explained in one length: The meeting expressed “serious discontentment over the repeated failures of the concerned authority with the reports of incomplete inspection of plantations in all the districts by the development officers of the board with inefficient technical assessment team, NE branch and non-release of backlog subsidies under 9th and 10th plan period.”
“In spite of the UPA government’s various noble initiatives, the concerned department under the Nagaland state government and the Tea Board of India have not been good stewards in communicating, implementing and materializing the benefits to the deserving farmers,” the letter said.
Memorandums have already been “drafted” to the governor, executive director of Tea Board of India and “all concerned authorities” the letter said. However, the “scenario continues to be bleak” and the grievances of the tea growers are being taken for granted since 2005, the letter said.
“As I share my grievance along with the rest of the tea growers in Nagaland, it is also my humble plea to the authorities to produce a concrete statement in order to clear off all the apprehensions and release the subsidies at the earliest lest the growing frustrations could lead to farmers’ agitation and further unwanted consequences,” the letter added.
