Actively scouting for Tea Board Chairman, says Teaotia

With Tea Board remaining headless for nearly three years now, Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia today said the ministry was actively scouting for a full-time chairman.
"For Tea Board, we are actively scouting for a full-time chairman," Teaotia told reporters on the sidelines of an industry event here.
She said the government's intention was to bifurcate the non-executive and executive functions of the Tea Board.
So far, Tea Board had been headed by an IAS officer as its chairman alternatively from West Bengal and Assam cadres. The last full-time chairman was MGVK Bhanu.
On tea industry's charge that work had bee affected due to absence of a permanent chairman, she said, "These remarks have no basis."

"The present incumbent who is acting as chairman is coming to the city every single week and all the schemes of the Tea Board are being implemented," Teaotia said.
She dismissed reports that Tea Board's head office located in the city was being shifted elsewhere. "There are no plans.