Tea Board likely to have non-executive chairman, CEO

Kolkata, Aug 19 (IANS) In order to redefine the role of chairman and deputy-chairman of the Tea Board of India for better policy direction, the Centre is considering appointment of a non-executive chairman and a full-time executive head, a top official said on Friday.

The Ministry of Commerce is also "actively" scouting for a suitable person as a full-time chairman of the board.

The Centre earlier this month issued a draft notification seeking to amend some rules under the Tea Act of 1953.

In the proposed draft Tea (Amendment) Rules, 2016, the amendments mainly are with regard to the role of the board chairman and the deputy-chairman, with the executive powers vested in the deputy chairman.

"The intention of the government is to consider to bifurcate a non-executive head and an executive functionary full-time so that there is a policy direction... there will probably be a non-executive chairman and CEO," Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia told reporters on the sidelines of an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

The government has sought objections and suggestions from the stakeholders and general public on the draft Tea (Amendment) Rules, 2016.

She, however, said, "As far as the chairman's position is concerned we are actively scouting for a suitable person as a full-time chairman of the Tea Board."

Currently, bureaucrats are appointed as board chairman. The board has not seen a full-time chief for almost four years now.

Teaotia dismissed reports that the Centre was planning to shift the Tea Board headquarters from Kolkata to Guwahati. "There is no plan or proposal on this," she added.