Tea Industry Raises Over Rs 2.26 Crore for Flood-Affected People
By Dalim Phukan
Guwahati, Oct6 : The tea industry in Assam joined hands to support flood-affected people, raising more than Rs 2.26 crore for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund through a special charity tea auction held at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre on Monday.
Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled a bust of Swahid Maniram Dewan, regarded as India’s first indigenous tea grower and a martyr of the freedom struggle of 1857, at the premises of the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre. He also participated in the special charity tea auction organised jointly by the Tea Association of India and the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre.
The auction was organised to commemorate the spirit and sacrifice of Swahid Maniram Dewan while raising funds for flood-affected people and families who suffered losses. Premium varieties including Matcha, Assam Orthodox, Organic, CTC and special Darjeeling teas were put up for auction.
Ghilaidhari BP Tea fetched the highest price of Rs 16 lakh and was purchased by Society Tea, while Zamira BP Tea fetched Rs 13 lakh and was purchased by Jivraj Tea. Former Tea Association of India chairman Hemant Bangur made an additional contribution of Rs 65 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The auction itself raised Rs 1.61 crore. With Bangur’s additional contribution of Rs 65 lakh, the total amount raised exceeded Rs 2.26 crore.
Apart from the auction proceeds, the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre contributed Rs 20 lakh, the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre Tea Lounge Rs 5 lakh and the Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers’ Association Rs 2 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Representatives of the three organisations handed over cheques to the Chief Minister. fileciteturn1file0L32-L36
Dr Sarma thanked the tea buyers, producers and the organisations involved for bringing together Assam’s rich tea heritage and a sense of social responsibility. He said the initiative provided a unique opportunity for tea buyers and producers to contribute towards a larger social cause and expressed hope that the contributions would support the welfare of the people of Assam.
A special tea auction of this nature was held at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre after a gap of several years, the last such auction having been held in 2012.
Minister for Labour Welfare and Tea Tribes & Adivasi Welfare Rameshwar Teli, Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota, Additional Chief Secretaries Dr J.B. Ekka and Dr K.K. Dwivedi, Federation Chairman of the All India Tea Traders’ Association Paras Desai, Tea Association of India president Shailaja Mehta, office-bearers of the Tea Association of India and Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, senior government officials, tea buyers and sellers and other distinguished guests attended the programme.
