HISTORY

ORIGIN

             In 1968, the Government of Tamilnadu started implementing the Government Tea Project in the Nilgiris. It was managed by the Forest Department as a scheme to rehabilitate the Sri Lanka Repatriates. In 1975 the Project was, brought under corporate management in the name of the Tamil Nadu Tea Plantation Corporation Limited. This Corporation is under the administrative control of Environment & Forest Department of Government of Tamil Nadu
            TANTEA has achieved a unique feat in Tea Industry of this country by planting extensive areas with clonal tea plants and is ranked among the few large clonal holdings in the World. With 4,431.92 ha. under tea plantations, it is the largest individual holding in Nilgiris and the second largest in T

                            

Phase-wise planting details are furnished below:

Phase

Year

Planted area in Ha.
Nilgiris Anamalais Total

Phase I

1969-1979

1850.74

..

1850.74

Phase II

1979-1981

591.10

..

591.10

Phase III

1982-1984

336.58

..

336.58

Phase IV

1990-1995

568.00

1085.50

1653.50

TOTAL

3346.42

1085.50

4431.92


OBJECTIVES/FUNCTIONS

            To employ and resettle the repatriates from Sri Lanka in the Plantations Schemes and to acquire on lease from the Government of Tamilnadu the Tea Plantations established under Government auspices under the Master Plan for Rehabilitation of the above said repatriates in the Forest areas of Nilgiris District and other suitable areas in the State of Tamil Nadu by purchase, lease or otherwise for raising Tea Plantations and other suitable species as the company may think fit.

    1. To acquire, purchase and take over estates that are offered for sale from time to time in Tamilnadu and which the Corporation considers profitable with all or any of its fixed and floating assets, goodwill, rights, licences, quota rights etc and to pay for the same and to carry on the said business in such manner and on such scale as may be considered desirable from time to time.
    2. To promote, purchase, lease, take control of, manage and or develop Tea estates in Tamil Nadu, after being fully satisfied about their economic viability, on a voluntary basis through negotiations, with a view to fulfilling one or more of the following objectives:-
      1. To safeguard the future of the Tea Industry,
      2. To protect the interests of workers and increase employment potentialities particularly for surplus tea garden labourers.
      3. To avoid possible speculative trends in acquisition and management of tea estates.
      4. To avoid concentration on ownership of tea estates in a few hands
  2. To carry on the businesses of planters, cultivators, sellers and dealers in tea and other commercial crops of every description and to manufacture, dispose of, sell and deal in products of such crops inside and outside the State of Tamil Nadu.
  3. To purchase; lease or otherwise acquire, hold sell, develop, manage, work, exchange, make advances upon, turn to account, dispose of and deal in or in any interests in, lands, concessions, estates, plantations and agricultural lands, forest and trading rights in any part of the State of Tamilnadu and to cultivate, grow, cure, prepare, for the market, manufacture, sell and deal in tea in all its forms and generally to carry on the business of planters and growers of and dealers in produce and merchandise.


LABOUR


             TANTEA has rehabilitated 2445 Sri Lanka repatriate families and has on its roll 6,700 permanent workers. About 4,500 casual workers (mostly dependents of permanent workers) are also getting employment in TANTEA during the high cropping periods.


Labour Statistics

Sl.No Division Division Workers Factory Workers Factory Supervisors
1 Coonoor 350 57 14
2 KOLAPALLI 250 51 7
3 NEDUVATTAM 443 0 14
4 CHERAMBADY 446 66 12
5 CHERANGODE 489 62 19
6 KOLAPPLI 662 0 38
7 NELLIYALAM 510 59 26
8 DEVALA 381 0 18
9 PANDIAR 672 61 35
10 LAWSON 699 27 24
11 RYAN 555 54 14
10 TOTAL 5457 437 221

WAGES TO THE WORKMAN


             Minimum wage rate              - Rs. 78.00
             Variable Dearness Allowance - Rs. 56.53
                                                         --------------
             Total wage                           - Rs.134.53 per day

LABOUR WELFARE:
Statutory Benefits

  1. 1) Rent free accommodation (Housing),
  2. Provision of Drinking water,
  3. Free Medical facilities,
  4. Creche to the Children,
  5. Primary Education 1st Std. to Vth Std.,
  6. Maternity leave with wages for 84 days,
  7. Leave with wages for 15 days,
  8. Sickness Allowance for 14 days in a year at 2/3 wages,
  9. National and Festival Holidays for 9 days (with wages in a year),
  10. Supply of protective clothing, field cumbly and Rug,
  11. Provision of Bonus, EPF, Gratuity, Pension, etc.,
OTHER BENEFITS:

  • Employment Assistance to the dependents of permanent workers in Srilanka Repatriate families absorbed in the Corporation:-
  • Free Liquid Tea at work spot,
  • Family Welfare – Incentive rates paid to men and Women workers

           In addition to salary/wages, the workers benefit welfare measures like rent free accommodation, free water supply, free medical attendance, creche, primary education, maternity benefit, leave with wages, sickness benefit, holiday wages, supply of warm clothing, free supply of liquid tea at workspot, family planning incentives, bonus, incentive for tea leaf plucking and job differential to skilled workers. Nearly, 4100 rent free standard houses have been provided to all the workers. Protected water supply, electricity, street light, foot path and toilet facilities, etc. have been provided to all these quarters. Further, cable TV connections have also been provided through private agencies on payment basis. During the working hours, the children between the age limit of 1 to 5 years are being attended to by the trained crèche attendants and in these crèches, milk and whole some refreshments are being supplied to all Children. Contributions are made to approved Provident Funds by the Corporation. In respect of gratuity, the Corporation has adopted ‘Group Gratuity cash accumulation Scheme’ with the Life Insurance Corporation of India.
TANTEA is currently running 6 primary schools and 1 middle school. In these schools, totally 1143 Children of the workers are studying in I Std. to VIII Std.


MEDICAL FACILITIES:

GARDEN HOSPITALS:
             As a statutory provision, the Corporation is having three Garden hospitals one in Kotagiri and another at Cherambadi to give medical care for its employees. The Government run Hospital at Cinchona near Valparai was taken over by TANTEA and it is managed to take care of the medical facilities of workers and staff of TANTEA and also the public in the erstwhile Cinchona area.
Also, for the emergency treatment to the workers, totally 11 Ambulance vans are provided and in each Division, a dispensary is functioning with a qualified Pharmacist. Apart from this, at present, free health camps with the services of all the specilised Doctors are being conducted in co-ordination with the private corporate hospitals.


THE MARKET

              TANTEA teas have been gaining popularity in the domestic market. While the major part of the production is sold through the tea auctions, efforts are on to make garden fresh tea available in packets and pouches to the domestic consumer. Impetus is being given to export Orthodox & CTC teas to major tea consuming countries worldwide.


THE COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

             Quality checks at each stage of production and right up to the point of shipment is part of the routine Keeping pace with the changing world, TANTEA is determined to maintain quality standards and meet the market expectations despite the growth anticipated in the next millennium. One of the factory has already obtained ISO 9000 certification and the same is in process for other factories.
TANTEA Orthodox & CTC teas have found a niche market abroad. To further expand its horizons in the global market, several quality control measures have been initiated.


Liste Of Factorys

Name of the Factory

Location & altitude

(M above MSL)

Type of Manufacture

Installed Capacity made tea (million kg)

Year of

commissioning

CHERANGODE

 

 

 

Gudalur(970)

 

 

 

CTC

 

 

 

2.25

 

 

 

1978

TIGERHIL

 

 

 

Coonoor(1970)

 

 

 

ORTHODOX

 

 

 

0.75

 

 

 

1980

CHERAMBADY

 

 

 

Gudalur(970)

 

 

 

CTC

 

 

 

2.25

 

 

 

1984

PANDIAR

 

 

 

Gudalur(910)

 

 

 

CTC

 

 

 

2.25

 

 

 

1988

QUINSHOLA

 

 

 

Kotagiri(1820)

 

 

 

ORTHODOX

 

 

 

0.75

 

 

 

1994

NELLIYALAM

 

 

 

Gudalur(970)

 

 

 

CTC

 

 

 

1.50

 

 

 

1995

LAWSON

 

 

 

Valparai(1200)

 

 

 

CTC

 

 

 

1.50

 

 

 

1996

RYAN

 

 

 

Valparai(1200)

 

 

 

CTC

 

 

 

2.00

 

 

 

1999