Biometric cards for Assam small tea growers soon

Guwahati, April 25 (IANS) Small tea growers in Assam will soon get biometric smart cards with a unique number.

The move has been initiated by the Tea Board of India.

Its executive director, Rakesh Saini, said Wednesday that the process of giving biometric cards will start April 28 at Sonitpur. Twelve small tea growers will be given biometric cards on that day, he said.

The Tea Board has collaborated with Amtron, the nodal agency of the Assam government for development, promotion and implementation of IT-related activities, for the project, he said.

"The Biometric Smart Card will electronically store all data regarding the individual small tea grower - his area of cultivation, production, address of his plantation and all other details," said board assistant director D. Kakoty, adding that the cards will improve connectivity between the Tea Board and the small tea growers.

"The Tea Board had asked the small tea growers to register with the Board and relaxed the norms for the registration process. However, only 5,000 small tea growers have registered with us so far. Non-registration with the Tea Board deprives the growers of many schemes," Kakoty said.

There are over 70,000 small tea growers in Assam who contribute about 30 percent of the state's total production.

Kakoty also said that a website detailing the board's activities in the northeast will be launched soon for the benefit of the tea growers in this part of the country.