Reliefs for West Bengal tea units

he tea industry in West Bengal is expecting to make a saving of over Rs.1 crore every month on account of reliefs extended to the industry, in the state budget which was placed by Finance Minister Amit Mitra on Friday. Mr. Mitra said that tea gardens were proposed to be exempted from payment of rural employment cess and education cess for a year from April 1, 2012. West Bengal accounts for about a quarter of the country's tea output. The Indian Tea Association (ITA) welcomed the announcement saying that ITA has been petitioning on this front for long and the relief now granted, would go a long way in helping the revival of the tea industry of West Bengal. This exemption translates in to a benefit of about Rs.12-13 crore per annum, the apex industry body for north India said.