India: Centre Promises Solution to Tobacco Ryots'' Woes

Source from:  The Hindu 09/17/2015

The Centre has promised a long-term solution to the woes of tobacco growers. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave an assurance in this regard to YSRC Whip in Parliament Y.V. Subba Reddy when the latter called on him in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Explaining the ground realities to Mr. Jaitley, the Ongole MP said traders had reneged on their commitment to the price band of Rs. 95 to Rs. 99 per kg of tobacco fixed at a meeting chaired by Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in July.

"The Tobacco Board had turned a deaf ear to the pleas of growers for market intervention," he told the Minister and wanted the Centre to direct the board to purchase the left-over tobacco with ryots by offering a remunerative price. Enditem