Kamna Kumar 
The Sugar Cane Growers Council welcomes the reinstatement of election provisions in the Sugar Industry Act, allowing growers to elect their representatives after two decades.
The last growers’ election took place in 2004, but the process halted in 2009, followed by the removal of election provisions in 2015.
Council CEO, Vimal Dutt that this took away growers’ voice in key industry decisions, making their reinstatement necessary.
The amendment to the Sugar Industry Act, endorsed in Parliament restores growers’ say in key industry decisions.
Dutt says the reinstatement empowers the approximately 10,500 active registered growers, enabling them to elect representatives at the sector, district, and board levels.
He says the election formalities will be shared with growers soon, with an awareness campaign planned to ensure transparency in the nomination and voting process.
Dutt adds the council will also work to restore grower representation on other boards.
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