India, March 30 -- The Tea Association of India (TAI) has urged the Assam government to address critical concerns related to land, wages, and imports before proceeding with key policy decisions impacting the tea sector, cautioning that unresolved issues could affect the industry's long-term sustainability.

Addressing the 37th Biennial General Meeting of TAI's Assam Branch in Jorhat, the Association's president, Shailja Mehta, said the proposed land patta distribution to tea garden workers, though well-intentioned, requires careful evaluation.

"While we appreciate the intent of the state government to provide land patta to tea garden workers, we respectfully request that key concerns be considered before implementation," Mehta said.

She...