Subsidy for Orthodox & Speciality Tea Unit for Plant & Machinery under the Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme

The Subsidy for Orthodox & Speciality Tea Unit for Plant & Machinery forms part of the Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme (ATISIS), introduced in 2020 by the Finance (Institutional Finance) Department, Government of Assam. ATISIS is intended to strengthen the long-term financial viability of Assam's tea industry and to support its modernisation. A central objective is to move manufacturers away from the traditional Crush, Tear, Curl (CTC) method and towards Orthodox and Speciality teas, which carry greater value addition. Such a shift matters for the competitiveness and premium standing of Assam tea in global markets.

ATISIS, including this plant and machinery subsidy, is delivered jointly by the Finance Department and the Industries & Commerce Department of the Government of Assam. At the ground level, it operates through implementing agencies such as commercial banks and District Industries & Commerce Centres (DICCs), which widen access and support efficient disbursal. Applications are handled through a dedicated online portal, and a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism credits eligible reimbursements straight into beneficiaries' bank accounts, bringing greater transparency and shorter delays.

The incentive is directed at drawing capital investment into advanced processing technologies. In turn, this is expected to raise product quality, expand export potential, and protect the economic future of the many livelihoods that depend on the Assam tea sector.

Applications for the Subsidy for Orthodox & Speciality Tea Unit for Plant & Machinery are submitted wholly online via a dedicated portal. The process starts with New User Registration on the official ATISIS portal. Applicants must furnish basic particulars — name, mobile number and email address — and set up a secure username and password. The mobile number is authenticated through an OTP, after which a Captcha Code must be entered. Once the account is activated via an email link, users log in and upload all supporting documents in the prescribed formats, together with full unit details covering location, type of tea production and capacity, and then wait for registration approval.

After registration and approval, applicants move to the Application Process. This requires logging into the portal, going to the "Apply for Benefits" section and choosing the applicable scheme component. The prescribed application form must then be filled in carefully, with every mandatory field completed. A crucial step is uploading all supporting documents specified by the portal, strictly observing the file format and size limits. Before final submission, all entered information must be checked for accuracy and completeness. Once the online application is submitted, applicants are strongly advised to record the application reference number and retain a copy of the submitted application form and confirmation message for future reference and tracking.

The Application Status Tracking facility lets beneficiaries log in to the portal and follow their application through the successive stages of verification. SMS alerts are sent at regular intervals to keep applicants informed of key milestones — registration approval, application status updates and, finally, fund release. For technical support during registration or application, applicants may contact the email address provided. Following successful verification and approval, the Disbursement Process is set in motion by the Finance Department, which transfers the benefit amount directly to the beneficiary's registered bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), with SMS alerts notifying the fund disbursement.

The Finance Department, Industries & Commerce Department, and District Industries & Commerce Centres carry out the review of applications, assessing the documentation submitted and whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria. Updates on an application's status reach applicants via the online portal and SMS alerts. Verification proceeds in stages, ending with approval and the release of funds to units found eligible.