Boosting growth and development, Kerala exempts tax on plantation sector

Thiruvananthapuram, June 21: Becoming the only state, Kerala has made a historic decision to exempt tax from the plantation sector. The decision was taken by the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in which he stated that the swing of initiatives including the abolition of plantation tax, the suspension on agriculture income tax and legislation to take over closed estates to revive the crisis-driven plantation sector.

The Chief Minister stated that the government has taken the decision in a series of measures to amend the condition of plantation sector. These measures will help foster growth and development in the sector and also will be a driving boost to the employment of the disadvantaged in the society.

 

The state cabinet has decided to eliminate the outdated plantation tax along with the suspension of the collected agriculture income tax in the plantation sector. Making the announcement in the assembly, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the labor department would take steps to formulate a plantation policy with a view to resolving problems faced by the sector. The necessary legislation would be brought in either to take over the closed or defunct plantations or run through societies of workers, he added.

 

Vijayan further said steps would be taken to bring the plantation workers under Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESI). The labor department would take necessary steps for timely revision of wages of workers, he added. The main plantation crops cultivated in a total of the area of 7.04 lakh hectares which comprises rubber, coffee, tea, and cardamom.

 

Kerala has always been welcoming new changes and has looked upon making things better for the people of the state. There are many firsts in the state which has brought the state on the developing front.