Post Assam win, Govt. asks NCERT to add Indian Tea in NCERT Books as Largest Women Employer

May,22,2016:

People should know that First Indian Tea planter Maniram Dewan was hanged by the British for his involvement in the 1857 Freedom Struggle.

Upon receipt of a request of North East Tea Association (NETA), NCERT will place before its Textbook Development Committee a proposal to include Tea as a chapter in its textbooks.

Union Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Zubin Irani was appealed by NETA to the to dedicate a chapter on Tea and the role it plays in the economy and society in the school textbooks.

NCERT has assured that the National Education Policy is in the process of formulating a curriculum framework and teaching materials.

Thereafter it would be placed before the Textbook Development Committee.

Staggered contents on Tea are already included are already part of all geography textbooks from Class VI to Class VIII under NCERT.

Tea is an important agricultural crop in the country. India is largest producer and consumer of black tea in the world and it is growing @ 25 per cent of the world's total tea production and consumption.

109-year old tea industry also acquires significance as it is one of the largest employer in the organised sector in the Nation.  Its 50 per cent work force consists of women. Also  Tea industry in India is the single largest employer of women.

By an estimate Eighty three per cent India households consume Tea.

Tea in Assam is not just a product or a commodity, but it is a culture steeped in the history.

Tea definitely deserves a chapter in school curriculum as the industry. It is an agro-based and labour oriented crop which provides direct employment to over one 10 Lakhs people.

An additional One Crore people derive their livelihood through its forward and backward business linkages.

Tea also acquires significance as it is also the cheapest drink in the world. It is next only to water and is the most widely consumed beverage across the length and breadth of the whole World.

Moreover, Tea is the only drinking beverage of India which has roots in India's Freedom Struggle.

Sh. Maniram Dewan, the first Indian tea planter was hanged by the British for his active involvement in the 1857 Freedom Struggle.