TANTEA suspends work over lack of funds, leaves

The two factories located at Coonoor and Kothagiri have stopped production, while others in Gudalur and Valparai region continue to function. “We are finding it difficult to pay salary to the workers due to shortage in funds. Salary could not be given to workers on the due date. Also, the factory has stopped production just for the time being and it is also to take up factory maintenance works. The firm is still running in profit,” said a TANTEA official. 

The official added that the production has been stopped over the last two days. “Everything would be set right in a week’s time and production will resume soon. There is no shortage of tea leaves,” he said.  

Over a thousand workers, employed directly and indirectly in the TANTEA plantation estates and factories were hit due to the production halt. The workers said that TANTEA could not keep pace with competition from private players.

“It was not modernised and hence could not produce quality tea powder. About 14,000 kilogram of green tea leaves were required for the functioning of a factory. However, the first-grade tea leaves plucked from its own estates were supplied to private companies. Only second-grade tea leaves are used for its own purpose. There is also a shortage of tea leaves for the factories to run in full capacity,” said a worker.

TANTEA was established in the year 1976 with an objective to rehabilitate repatriates from Sri Lanka under Shastri-Srimavo Pact 1964. It plays a vital role in uplifting the lives of thousands of repatriates by providing them with the job, residential facilities, medical facilities, crèche and school facilities in the hills.