Darjeeling Tea is the undisputed premium Indian product having huge International repute. It is a 150 years old product providing employment to around 67,000 growers (60% of these are women), with a total output of around 850 million kilograms.
The Tea Board, a Statutory Body under Tea Act constituted with an objective of promoting and protecting Tea Export claims itself to the representative of growers. Based upon such representation, they were accorded GI status in
The magnitude and economic credibility has no bearing with its claim to hold GI. However, the GI being a Traditional Knowledge is to be held by its true rightful owners i.e. farmers/growers and not by an export regulating authority such as Tea Board.
Concealing all these facts, recently the Tea Board applied for GI with European Council. Undoubtedly doing so is in our nation’s interest. But the fact that Tea Board is under no statutory obligation to do so and cannot claim it to be the holder of GI, cannot be brushed aside and ignored. They are not representing the interests of 67000 growers and thus cannot claim themselves to be in representative capacity.
Vide notice dated 17th November to Tea Board (Copy to the Secretary DIPP and the Hon’ble the Prime Minister), Mr. Rajiv Saraf has requested them to provide membership to all 67000 growers, incorporate it as its statutory duty, constitute an independent GI Body to protect and manage the GI of Darjeeling Tea and to claim so at international forums thereafter. The present incapacity of Tea Board to hold GI is apparent from that they hold no statutory mandate and/ or authority to hold such rights.
I hope good conscious will prevail and the Tea Board shall amend its way towards protection of such precious and valuable product. It would be better if they confine to their statutory duties rather than encroaching upon the rights of others by using their big banner.
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