The Dark Age Of Tocklai

“It’s going to perish within two years..”, sighed a scientist working at the Asia’s largest tea research institute. Toklai Tea Research Institute resting in Jorhat has been the pride of the country and hub of different kinds of researches. Since the time of its establishment way back in the colonial era, Tocklai Tea Research Institute has seen glorious days. Scientists from far and wide would come to this institute to do their researches as Toklai was a perfect and all encompassing hub to carry out researches. But why is it on the verge of closure?

- Chirasmrita Devi

The establishment of the Scientific Department of Indian Tea Association in 1900 marked the foundation of a new era for the tea industry in the country. This was consolidated with the creation of the Tocklai Tea Research Institute in 1911. Initially, it came to be known as the Tocklai Experimental Station. However, in 1964 the Tea Research Association (TRA) was formed which took over the management and control of Tocklai to expand the horizon of tea research. Different aspects of Tea cultivation and Tea processing were carried out in the experimental station. The financial and technical aid was provided by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Again, CSIR withdrew its support in 1996 due to some amendments in the government policies. This is when the cancer of the financial crisis began. In 2014, it was renamed as Tocklai Tea Research Institute.

The central government started providing financial aid to Tocklai TRI through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Tea Board was engaged as the monitoring agency for utilization of funds and research progress but the overall control of Tocklai lies with the TRA. The ministry does not directly grant funds to Tocklai TRI or TRA. Fund is released to Tea Board which in turn releases the fund to TRA as per the approved guidelines. By rule, the Tea Board of India is supposed to pay 49% on expenditure such as salaries, PF, gratuity, medical and training.

However, since 2012, the once glorious Tocklai TRI has been witnessing acute financial crises due to low fund allocations which is eventually shackling work at this oldest and largest tea research facility in the world. Employees allege that they have not received several salary components like insurance and provident fund for years. They have been on strike off and on demanding the release of assured funds, recruitment of scientists, smooth conduct of research work and other measures.