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Tea Board must become ‘facilitator’ instead of ‘regulator’: Chairman

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Some “radical steps” envisaged by the central government for re-defining the role of the Tea Board have been put on the “back burner” though its performance is still “under the scanner”, its Chairman Prabhat K. Bezboruah has said.

The Union Commerce Ministry has asked the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade to look into the functioning of the Board and how its mandate can be altered to serve the interests of the stakeholders of tea industry better, Bezboruah told IANS in an interview.

“In terms of re-organisation of Tea Board, there were some radical steps envisaged by the Centre when Nirmala Sitharaman was the Commerce Minister. Now, I think these have been put on the backburner and the proposals frozen for the time being. I don’t think there will be any major structural changes in the commodity boards,” he said.

“However, the Board’s performance continues to be under the scanner due to widespread dissatisfaction expressed by many segments of stakeholders. As a consequence, the Union Commerce Ministry has requested Indian Institute of Foreign Trade to look at the functioning of the Board and how its mandate can be altered to serve the interests of the stakeholders of tea industry better,” he said during the candid chat.

Bezboruah, formerly a banker in the US and a well known tea planter from Assam, said the Board must “reinvent itself” and play the role of “facilitator” to the industry instead of a “regulator”.

“I’ve tried to push for changing the role of Tea Board from that of a regulator to that of a facilitator. The Board is still suffering from red tapism and a license raj hangover, and this mindset should be altered. There is no sense having a regulator when everything else related to supply and demand is open and unregulated.

“If the Board cannot control supply — witness the huge growth of the small holder sector — what is the point of over-regulating the organised sector” he asked, adding: “despite the Board’s efforts at enforcing all kinds of archaic rules, the implementation of its diktats was patchy and varied hugely from state to state depending on the implementing official’s whims.”

He pointed out that the centre continued to look at downsizing options and re-defining the Tea Board’s role within the sector.

According to him, the Board should try to make the industry more efficient by improving its yield and productivity by increasing the demand for tea and by educating consumers about the quality of tea.

“Tea Board should therefore focus on generic promotion of tea, targeted export promotion, improving the efficiency of the gardens, development of the industry by improving the yield, changing the product mix and helping the tea properties to mitigate the effects of climate change, among other schemes” Bezboruah said.

He also said the tea industry, which is in a “Catch-22 situation”, has been suffering from low yields, stagnating prices and attrition of workers in the face of “low wages”.

“The industry is barely earning any profit, and the sensitivity of the cost of production to wage increases is an absurd 60 per cent, that is, if wages go up by Rs 10 per day, the cost of production of a typical North India garden will go up by Rs 6.”

According to him, organised players have actually been losing their crop because of “old bushes, overused soil, water logging, climate change, lack of timely rainfall and shortage of workers, among other factors”.

“The Tea Board must look into these problems. The Board and the government should also look at whether there is any organised effort to keep tea prices down,” said Bezboruah, who is the first non-bureaucrat and an industry insider to be at the helm of the Kolkata-headquartered organisation, adding that tea prices have gone up only 20 times in the last 60 years whereas prices of staples like rice and wheat have gone up 100 times over this period.

He, however, welcomed the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approval of the proposal to appoint IPS officer Arun Kumar Ray as Deputy Chairman of Tea Board.

“Having a permanent Deputy Chairman, who is also the CEO of the Tea Board, is what the industry needs. Somebody who stays in Kolkata, would be able to handle the problems that the Board is facing more effectively,” Bezboruah explained.

Argentina enter World Cup pre-quarters with 2-1 win over Nigeria  (01:40) 

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Array Argentina defeated Nigeria 2-1 in their final Group D match here on Tuesday to enter the FIFA World Cup pre-quarterfinals.

Marcos Rojo scored the winner for Argentina in the 87th minute after Victor Moses’ penalty conversion in the 51st minute had canceled out Lionel Messi’s strike in the 14th minute.

Following the win, Argentina has four points in total and they are second in the table, behind Croatia, who have nine points. The other two teams in the group, Nigeria (three points) and Iceland (one point) have crashed out of the tournament.

Future of coalition govt to be clear after Lok Sabha elections : Siddaramaiah,

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A statement by former chief minister Siddaramaiah about the present coalition government of Congress and JD(S) has come as a worry to chief minister H D Kumaraswamy who is already facing issues in running the present government.

In a video that has gone viral, Siddaramaiah who is undergoing two-week treatment at SDM Yoga and Nature Cure Hospital in Shantivana in Ujire near Dharmasthala is seen discussing the Karnataka politics and upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In the video, Siddaramaiah, while answering to a person who is in conversation, says that the validity of the present coalition government is till Lok Sabha elections.

When the person says that it is difficult for the coalition government to last for 5 years, Siddaramaiah also agrees and says, “Yes it is difficult. Let us wait and watch till Lok Sabha elections. If opposition parties join hands Modi will not come back to power.”

In the video, the person raises several doubts about the fate of present coalition government. Siddaramaiah, however, is seen only answering to what the person in conversation asks. However, he did not say anything directly about the present coalition government and its future.

Meanwhile, Dr. G Parameshwara while reacting to the statement said that the present government will complete five years. “As a KPCC chief, I can say that we will complete five years. We cannot expect what will happen in the future,”

Meanwhile, MLC Ivan D’Souza too reacting to the controversy said that Siddaramaiah was only answering to the person who was in conversation with. “The coalition government will complete five years,” he said.

Eight-year-old Bengal girl chokes herself to death

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An eight-year-old girl was found dead in her house in neighboring North 24 Parganas having choked herself fatally while playing with ropes, police said on Tuesday.

“Her parents revealed that the girl was very active and played around by climbing and swinging. The death on Monday seems to be due to the ropes tightening around her neck. There are no other injury marks. The body has been sent for post-mortem to make things clear,” said the investigating officer from the Jaggadal police station.

The family members revealed that she watched cartoons a lot and always played around.

“We had played in the rain together, after that she was playing on her own with her dolls. My sister watched cartoons a lot. She also avidly watched a crime show,” her sister said.

However, a city-based psychologist said: “It is not right to blame cartoons and other TV shows. Even if a child is watching, he/she must be made aware of reality, through discussions initiated by the family members.”

India, DRC, US among most dangerous countries for women: poll

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India, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the US are among the top 10 most dangerous countries for women, according to a new poll by Thomas Reuters Foundation.

The organization surveyed nearly 550 experts focused on women’s issues, asking them to rank countries based on a number of key issues, including access to healthcare, the prevalence of sexual abuse and discrimination.

The experts ranked India as the most dangerous country for women.

“The world’s second most populous nation, with 1.3 billion people, ranked as the most dangerous on three of the topic questions – the risk of sexual violence and harassment against women, the danger women face from cultural, tribal and traditional practices, and the country where women are most in danger of human trafficking including forced labour, sex slavery and domestic servitude,” the findings said.

The report specifically pointed to the 2012 gang rape and murder of Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student.

The rape of Singh caused widespread protests and drew international attention over violence against women.

Indian girls take a pledge to act towards stopping atrocity on women
The last time Thomas Reuters Foundation conducted the poll, India ranked fourth overall.

This year’s survey listed Afghanistan as the second most dangerous country for women.

The country was ranked as the most dangerous on the topics of non-sexual violence, including conflicted-related violence and domestic abuse, access to healthcare and access to economic resources.

The DRC was ranked seventh. It came in second in the 2011 poll.

On a visit to the DRC earlier this year, Norwegian Refugee Council chief Jan Egeland said that women and children were being exposed to the “worst sexual abuse ever”.

According to the United Nations, about 4.3 million people are internally displaced in the country due to violence aggravated by a political crisis sparked by President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to step down at the end of his mandate in 2016.

The United States was listed as the 10th most dangerous country for women, ranking third on the question of sexual violence and sixth on the issue of non-sexual violence.

Thomas Reuters Foundation pointed out that the survey was conducted after the #MeToo movement went viral last year after several women accused prominent Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse.

Weinstein has since pleaded not guilty to rape and criminal sex act charges.

 since grown into a global movement against sexual violence against women, with many exposing the prevalence of sexual harassment and abuse in the workspace worldwide.

Almost one in five women have been raped, and more than one in three experienced rape, violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the US, according to 2010 statistics by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People participate in a protest march for survivors of sexual assault and their supporters in Hollywood [File: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters]
It is worth noting that no Latin American country topped the list, despite many countries having high rates of femicide and 49 countries having no laws to protect women from domestic violence, according to UN Women.

Some including, Cindy Southworth, executive vice president at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, said that media coverage of #MeToo in the US may have attributed to this.

“People watch the US,” she told Reuters news agency. “They watch our elections. They watch our media coverage. They watch our celebrity violence against women cases.

“The perception is understandable, but not based on reality.”

Globally, it is estimated that one in three women experience physical or sexual violence during her lifetime, and nearly 750 million women and girls married before their 18th birthday.

Other countries that ranked among the top 10 were Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Yemen.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation poll was a repeat of a similar survey in 2011 that found Afghanistan, DRC, Pakistan, India, and Somalia was seen as the most dangerous countries for women.

 

PM attacks Congress for imposing Emergency, calls for ‘eternal vigil’

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday said the 1975-77 Emergency was a “dark period” that the nation could never forget and called for making democracy stronger by “writing, debating, deliberating, and questioning” its vital aspects and pledged his full commitment to protecting the Indian Constitution and Democracy.

Simultaneously, he took the opportunity attack the Congress Party and its leaders – taking care not to name any members of the Gandhi-Nehru family – saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was not observing a ‘Black Day’ merely to criticise the Congress, but to make the modern youth aware of what happened during Emergency.

“India remembers its as a dark period when every institution was subverted and an atmosphere of fear was created. Not only people but also ideas and artistic freedom were held hostage to power politics. The youth have no idea what happened then and they cannot imagine how living without freedom can be,” Modi said.

Interestingly, Modi’s comments came in Mumbai where the Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885, 132 years ago by a group of nationalists to launch the country’s freedom struggle against the British Empire.

It also came a day after union minister Arun Jaitley called the then Prime Minister, the late Indira Gandhi as ‘Hitler’ – and in Mumbai, where BJP ally and Shiv Sena’s ex-Mayor Snehal Ambekar had compared Modi with the German dictator, leading to a massive political furore exactly three years ago.

Addressing a meeting at the Birla Matoshri Autitorium, Modi hailed the spirit of those citizens who firmly opposed the Emergency that came into force on June 25, 1975, leading to suspension of the fundamental rights.

“Whenever the Congress – and especially this one family – apprehends losing power, they start shouting and raise the bogey that the country and democracy are in danger and there is an atmosophere of fear, and they alone can save it,” Modi said.

He accused the (Gandhi) family of breaking the INC – built by the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders – “in their lust for power”, and how it subverted all democratic institutions including the Constitution, the parliament, the elections, the judiciary and the media, “for the benefit of one family”.

Modi said they did everything but cleverly remained within the limits of the Constitution, but years later the family never imagined that the courts would frame corruption charges against them and they would be enlarged on bail.

“So, now they tried to scare the highest echelons of the judiciary by bringing in an impeachment motion during Emergency, judges were abruptly transferreda and their arrogant mentality remains unchanged even today,” Modi said.

Besides, canards were spread against the RSS and Jan Sangh (which later became the BJP), that they are anti-Muslims and anti-Dalit and they would butcher them, all for the lust for power of the family.

“I salute the courage of all those great women and men who steadfastly resisted the Emergency, which was imposed 43 years ago. Their struggles ensured people power prevailed over authoritarianism and the stifling of civil liberties. Media persons like the late Ramnath Goenka and the late C.R. Irani, and senior journalist Kuldip Nayar braved all odds and censorship to continue fighting for democracy, Modi said.

“In the past all parties had respected the Election Commission of India (ECI), baring one party, which has now been reduced from 400 to 44 (seats in Lok Sabha). So now they target the ECI, they attack the Electronic Voting Machinesa” Modi pointed out.

He said those who “crushed the Constitution and imprisoned Democracy cannot be trusted, but they are now alleging that “Modi will destroy the Constitution,” but assured that “we are different.

“Despite ruling for 70 years, you never celebrated the Constitutiona We started it in Parliament and right upto the school levels. We want to strengthen it even more,” the PM said.

“Let us always work to make our democratic ethos stronger. Writing, debating, deliberating, questioning are vital aspects of our democracy which we are proud of. No force can ever trample the basic tenets of our Constitution. We must remain aever vigilant’ in coming times,” he urged.

The Emergency lasted till March 21, 1977. The Congress led by Indira Gandhi then was voted out of power in the elections that were held soon after.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai Congress President Ashish Shelar also addressed the gathering ‘1975 – Apaatkaal Loktantra par Aaghat’ where state BJP President Raosaheb Patil-Danve was also present.

Rahul Attacks Modi over women safety

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing a report which said that India is the most dangerous country for a woman because of risks of rape and violence.

Gandhi said that while Modi frequently posts yoga videos, such reports were a shame for the country.

“While our PM tiptoes around his garden making yoga videos, India leads Afghanistan, Syria and Saudi Arabia in rape and violence against women. What a shame for our country!” Gandhi tweeted, tagging a report based on a survey by Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The report, citing the survey of 550 experts on women’s issues, said India was the most dangerous country in the world for women because of the high risk of sexual violence and human trafficking for domestic work, forced labour, forced marriage and sexual slavery.

The report further said India was also the most dangerous country in the world for cultural traditions that impact women for which the survey cited acid attacks, female genital mutilation, child marriage and physical abuse.

Mallya offers to sell assets to repay bank loans

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Fugitive tycoon Vijaya Mallya has sought the Karnataka High Court’s permission to let him and his holding firm UBHL sell their assets under judicial supervision and repay creditors, including state-run banks.

“UBHL (United Breweries Holding Ltd) and myself have filed an application before the Karnataka High Court on June 22, setting out available assets of about Rs 13,900 crore,” said Mallya from London in a statement released by his office here on Tuesday.

Mallya has requested the court’s permission to allow him to sell the assets under judicial supervision and repay creditors, including the state-run bank’s such amounts as may be directed and determined by the court.

The 62-year-old liquor baron, who fled India on March 2, 2016, has been living in London since then despite summons from Indian courts and law enforcement agencies to appear before them for trial in various related cases.

Asserting that recovery of loans was a civil matter, Mallya said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) had, however, criminalized it in his case by moving against him aggressively despite his intentions to settle the dues with the banks.

“The CBI and ED seem determined to frame criminal charges against me on the pretext of non-payment to the banks. The motivation, however, seems to be to secure my presence in India to face charges than to determine if the evidence collected by the investigative agencies demonstrates criminal charges against me or to permit me to sell assets and repay creditors,” he said.

Claiming that the bulk of the dues were on account of interest, Mallya said owing to injunctions, attachments and refusal to grant permission to sell the assets, it (interest) had kept mounting.

“Consequently, the bloated figure of outstanding dues to the banks is largely on account of these mala fide actions. If CBI or ED object to my proposal and sale of assets, it will demonstrate that there is an agenda against me beyond recovery of dues to the banks,” the statement pointed out.

Reiterating that he made efforts to settle the dues, Mallya said if politically motivated and extraneous factors interfere, there was nothing he could do.

A consortium of 17 banks, led by the State Bank of India (SBI), gave Rs 5,500 crore loans to Mallya’s now defunct Kingfisher Airlines since over a decade.

“Over Rs 600 crore has been recovered through sale of pledged assets and Rs 1,280 crore was deposited with the Karnataka High Court since 2013,” recalled Mallya.

Referring to the charges allegedly made by politicians and the media that he ran away from the country after “stealing” Rs 9,000 crore loaned to his airline, Mallya said some of the lending banks had also declared him a wilful defaulter.

“The CBI and ED have filed charge-sheets against me with untenable and false allegations acting at the behest of the government and lending banks. The ED also attached assets belonging to me, my group companies and owned and/or controlled by my family under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) currently valued at Rs 13,900 crore,” said Mallya.

Observing that he became the “Poster Boy” of bank default and a lightning rod of public anger, Mallya said though he wrote letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely on April 15, 2016 clarifying his position and seeking their intervention to settle the dues, there was no response from either of them.

HDK will present budget at any cost inspite Siddaramaiah’s opposition

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The cold war between the former chief minister and chairman of Congress-JD(S) coordination committee, Siddaramaiah, and current chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy appears to be reaching a flash point, with both leaders not inclined to climb down from their respective stands.

In an apparent retort to Siddaramaiah, the chief minister said that he is not aware whether he would present the budget or not. “I do not speak with the harsh voice and arrogance like others. I am not indebted to anyone in reaching this position. I am not concerned about the length of a term I will be in power, but about the commitment with which I work,” he stated. He said he does not get any commission out of waiver of farm loans, but added that he is aware who will collect commission out of this measure.

He was speaking at a meeting of cooperative bank presidents, managing directors and directors of cooperative banks over waiver of farmers loans organized on Monday at Vidhana Soudha here.

Kumaraswamy feels that it is a custom for any new government to come out with new budget highlighting implementation of the party manifesto. It provides an opportunity to tell the people about priorities and commitments of the government. The supplementary budget might not provide for major steps like waiver of farm loans. If a budget is not presented now, the government may be forced to implement the programmes of the previous government, he feels.

On the other hand, Siddaramaiah is of the opinion that Congress being a partner in the current government, there is no need for a new budget. He feels that new budget is needed only if a new government is formed by a new party. He is apprehensive that popular schemes announced by him in his budget may be neglected when preparing the new budget.

Another fear is that JD(S) might give undue importance to its own manifesto in the new budget. He also is apprehensive of the chance of sacrificing credit which otherwise would have been earned by his party. Another fear is that the new chief minister, in an enthusiasm to get popularity, may lose control over financial discipline in which case Congress might face flak. He also feels that it would serve interests of his party if the current budget is continued till Lok Sabha election, as otherwise, JD(S) might snatch the initiative.

Ram temple will be built ‘all of a sudden’: BJP leader

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Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Ram Vilas Vedanti on Monday said that a grand Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya “all of a sudden”.

Talking to the media in Ayodhya ahead of the visit of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyaas said that the “temple construction will be done in the same manner as the Babri mosque was razed”.

“A grand Ram temple will come up at Ayodhya in 2019, all of a sudden, almost on lines of demolition of the Babri mosque,” he added.

Alluding to the demolition of the disputed structure in 1992, the former lawmaker tried to suggest that the way to construction of the Ram temple could be out of court as well. He said that only the BJP had the “capacity to construct the Ram temple”.

He also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi ensure that the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyaas gets back the 67-acre land.

“The BJP now has majority governments in Uttar Pradesh and the Centre and it is the right time for construction of the grand Ram temple and bring the long-drawn battle to an end,” he said.

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