‘Bring plantation sector under administrative control of Industries Department’

Students of schools in the plantations were honoured with certificates for academic excellence by Rajya Sabha MP and PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss during the 73rd annual conference of The Planters Association of Tamil Nadu, at Coimbatore on Saturday. | Photo Credit: SIVA SARAVANAN S The Planters’ Association of Tamil Nadu (PAT) on Saturday, October 10, 2026, appealed to the State Government to bring plantation sector under the administrative control of Department of Industries and Commerce as in Kerala, and a few other States.Plantation industry in Tamil Nadu is in a quandary, having to handle a number of departments, PAT Chairman, Vinodhan Kandiah, pointed out.While the Central Government’s control over the plantation industry in terms of trade and commerce is fairly well-defined, the bulk of the Governmental regulations on the industry pertains to various departments of the State Government like, Labour, Forest, Revenue, PWD, Taxes, and Electricity. But, the question as to which department exercises administrative control over the plantation industry has remained an unresolved mystery for more than six decades, resulting in a severe lack of co-ordination on the multifarious and interconnected issues of the industry, he said.Under the Tamil Nadu Government Business Rules, 1978, the plantation industry is required to be placed under the jurisdiction of the State Industries Department.The Government of Kerala has formed a ‘Plantation Directorate’ under the Industries Department of that State. The other plantation States of West Bengal and Assam too have placed plantations under their respective Industries Departments. This should serve as a ready precedent for the Government of Tamil Nadu too, for creating a similar arrangement in our State, Mr. Vinodhan said.Wage determination for traditional labour-intensive industries should be done with the aim of protecting the guaranteed employment prospects for the large workforce. The unique and additional financial burdens on the plantation employer require to be factored in for wage fixation under the new Labour Codes, he said, and also sought government intervention in the areas of property taxation, crop diversification in plantations, fertiliser shortage, and environmental issues.In deference to the request by the PAT, Anbumani Ramadoss, Rajya Sabha MP and PMK president, who inaugurated the conference, expressed readiness to convey the association’s predicament to Central and State Governments, for further action. The plantation sector provides direct employment to 1.25 lakh people and indirect employment to over three lakh people, he said.Explaining the challenges caused by climate variation, low productivity, rising costs in maintaining plantations, Anil Mathew, Vice-President, The United Planters’ Association of Tamil Nadu (UPASI), Coonoor, called for devising of policies factoring in economic viability and environmental sustainability.Students of schools in the plantations who had excelled in SSLC public examinations were honoured with prizes on the occasion.Sandeep Singh Sidhu, Managing Director, Craigmore Plantations (India) Private Limited, The Nilgiris, was elected Chairman of PAT for 2026-27, and P.B. Achaiah, Senior General Manager, Tata Coffee Limited, was elected Vice-Chairman, at the annual general meeting. Published - October 10, 2026 08:35 pm IST