Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that he will take up the issue of declaring Tea as the National Drink with the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Ahluwalia gave this assurance while attending the Platinum Jubilee function of the Assam Tea Planters Association at Tocklai Experimental Station in Jorhat.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that state government would extend all help to the further growth of the industry. It may be recalled that Assam government has already declared tea as the State Drink and also asked the Centre to declare it as the National Drink. The tea bodies requested Ahluwalia to out laid a comprehensive policy on irrigation.

It may be recalled that Assam Tea Planters Association was the first tea producers’ association formed by the Indian planters during the pre-independence period. It was come into being on 23rd June in 1935 by 17 tea planters of the region. At present, around 200 tea growers of the state represented the association. A golf tournament will also be held tomorrow to mark the occasion.