Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company (KDHP) is taking the initiative to bring around 3,000 small growers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu under the ambit of the Rainforest Alliance Certification.

This was announced by P.T. Siganporia, Chairman, while speaking at the 9{+t}{+h} AGM held in Munnar. KDHP, one of the largest partly-employee-owned companies in the country, had recently received at one shot the RA certification for all its plantations.

He said KDHP’s ‘Ripple’ brand is well-accepted in the market and the company aims to grow manifold by creating more world-class brands.

The board of directors declared 15 per cent dividend for 2013-14 as was paid last year. The total dividend payout was ₹1.16 crore. Turnover during the period registered a 10 per cent increase at ₹286.80 crore, while net profit grew 26 per cent at ₹15.54 crore.  

The participatory management structure of KDHP, the largest producer of tea in south India, is unique in the plantation sector. Of the total of 11,766 shareholders, 11,738 shareholders are from the employee category comprising labourers, staff, executives, non-staff and former employees, including those who have retired and resigned. Of these, labourers make a big chunk of 10,082.  The minimum number of shares held by each labourer is 300.

The Chairman also congratulated and honoured Vasanthi, a worker of Chittavurrai North Division, who was recently selected for the Prime Minister’s Shram Devi award in recognition of her zeal and enthusiasm towards work.

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