NewKerala.com

Assam Tea Workers Get 40% Wage Hike, CM Credits BJP Over Congress

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the BJP-led state government has increased the daily wages of tea garden workers by over 40% since 2021. He accused previous Congress governments of neglecting the community for decades, using them only as a vote bank. The latest revision raises wages by Rs 30 daily, setting new rates of Rs 280 in Brahmaputra Valley and Rs 258 in Barak Valley. The government has also initiated other welfare measures, including land rights and reservation benefits, to address historical injustices faced by tea workers.

Key Points: Assam Tea Garden Workers' Wages Hiked 40%: CM Himanta

  • Over 40% wage hike since 2021
  • Daily wage increased by Rs 30
  • Accusation of Congress neglect
  • Part of broader welfare initiatives
2 min read

BJP govt increased daily wages of tea garden workers by 40 per cent: Assam CM

Assam CM Himanta Sarma announces over 40% wage increase for tea garden workers since 2021, accuses previous Congress govts of neglect.

"The difference is clear. While the BJP government has hiked the wages of Cha Shramiks by over 40 per cent since 2021, Congress governments used them merely as a vote bank for decades. - Himanta Biswa Sarma"

Guwahati, March 10

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the BJP-led government in the state has increased the wages of tea garden workers by more than 40 per cent since 2021, accusing previous Congress governments of neglecting the community for decades.

In a post on social media platform X, Sarma said the state government has been working to improve the socio-economic conditions of tea garden labourers, popularly known as "Cha Shramiks", through higher wages and other welfare measures.

"The difference is clear. While the BJP government has hiked the wages of Cha Shramiks by over 40 per cent since 2021, Congress governments used them merely as a vote bank for decades," Sarma wrote.

Highlighting the latest wage revision, the Chief Minister said the daily wages of tea garden workers have been increased by Rs 30.

According to the revised rates, tea garden workers in the Brahmaputra Valley will now receive a daily wage of Rs 280, while workers in the Barak Valley will receive Rs 258 per day.

Sarma said the wage hike is part of the government's efforts to honour the contribution of tea garden workers, whom he described as the "backbone" of Assam's tea industry.

"Honouring Assam's backbone, the Cha Shramiks, the government has increased their daily wages and continues to recognise their hard work," he said.

Apart from wage hikes, Sarma said the government has also initiated steps to address long-standing issues affecting tea garden communities.

He stated that the state government has taken measures to improve the livelihoods of tea garden workers by granting land rights, providing reservation benefits and implementing several welfare schemes aimed at improving living conditions in tea garden areas.

The Chief Minister added that these initiatives are aimed at correcting what he termed a "historical injustice" faced by the tea garden community.

Assam has a large population of tea garden workers employed in the state's extensive tea industry, which plays a key role in the economy and provides livelihoods to lakhs of people across several districts.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
While the wage hike is welcome, Rs 280 per day is still very low for the hard work they put in. The cost of living has gone up so much. This should be a stepping stone, not the final destination. Hope the government continues to review this regularly.
A
Aman W
It's good to see action after decades of neglect. My grandfather was a tea garden worker. The conditions were terrible. Land rights and reservations are even more important than the daily wage. That gives long-term security. Jai Cha Shramik!
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the difference in wages between Brahmaputra Valley and Barak Valley (Rs 280 vs Rs 258). Is there a justification for this disparity? Both sets of workers do the same tough job. Transparency in how these rates are set would be helpful.
K
Karthik V
This is a positive move. The tea industry is crucial for Assam and India. When the workers prosper, the whole state benefits. Hope the welfare schemes for housing, education, and healthcare are implemented effectively too. The devil is in the delivery.
N
Nisha Z
Accusing previous governments is easy. Every party should just focus on doing good work for the people without always playing the blame game. The increase is good, let's appreciate that and hope all parties support the welfare of workers going forward.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50