Guwahati, January 25 (). The Assam government on Sunday reiterated its focused commitment to the welfare of tea garden workers. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the ‘Mukhya Mantrir Eti Koli Duti Paat’ scheme at Doomduma in Tinsukia district on Sunday. Under this scheme, a lump sum financial assistance of Rs 5,000 will be provided to more than six lakh workers across the state.
The Chief Minister has described this scheme as a tribute to the invaluable contribution of tea garden workers to the 200-year-old tea industry of Assam. Under this scheme, an amount of more than Rs 300 crore will be distributed to 6,03,927 permanent and temporary workers employed in 836 tea gardens spread across 27 districts and 73 assembly constituencies.
Speaking at the launch, Sarma said that this initiative fulfills another important election promise of the present government and underlines the government’s commitment to improve the socio-economic condition of tea garden workers and tribal communities.
He further said that adequate budgetary provisions have been made to ensure successful implementation of the scheme.
The Chief Minister said that the world starts its day with a cup of Assam tea, but the laborers toiling in the fields often remain unseen. Just as we are proud of the tea of Assam, we should also be proud of the tea garden workers. He also mentioned that the tea industry of the state has completed 200 years since its inception during the British era.
Under this programme, the Chief Minister also inaugurated mobile crèche and mobile toilet services aimed at ensuring child care, health, dignity and safe working conditions for tea garden workers.
Highlighting a series of welfare measures, Sarma said the government has provided 3 per cent reservation for tea garden tribes and indigenous communities under the OBC category in Class III and IV government jobs.
He announced that families living in tea garden labor areas will soon be provided with land rights, applications for which will be distributed from the beginning of February and land pattas will be issued thereafter.
—
ms/