A crucial meeting to discuss issues regarding disbursement of bonus to tea garden workers was held on Wednesday in Assam’s Sivasagar district.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Jorhat MP Topon Kumar Gogoi at the Sukafa Conference Hall of the office of the deputy commissioner, Sivasagar.
The chairman requested the tea garden management of all the 27 tea gardens of the district to take needful action to disburse bonus accordingly.
This is in line of the decision of Assam Government regrading providing of 20 per cent bonus to the tea garden workers of the Tea Estates under Assam Tea Corporation Limited (ATCL).
The tea gardens under ATCL in the district have already declared 20 per cent bonus to the tea garden workers under their jurisdiction.
Besides some other big and medium sized tea garden managements have given their consent over the issue of disbursement of 20 per cent bonus.
The remaining few will also declare the percentage of bonus to be disbursed from their end within next 2-3 days.
During the meeting the deputy commissioner Dr S Lakshmanan requested the Excise and Police department to strictly curb consumption, distribution and selling of illicit liquor during distribution of bonus in the tea garden areas.
“Strict vigil and intensive drive against illicit liquer should be undertaken during this period,” he directed.
The superintendent of police Amitava Sinha called on the tea garden management to contact the nearest police station for providing necessary safety and security measures while carrying the cash for this purpose from the banks.
The meeting was attended by district development commissioner Nawab Al Azhar Ali, sub-divisional officer (Civil) of Nazira Rajib Thapa and assistant labour commissioner Hiteswar Roy.
It was also attended by office bearers of various tea garden managements of the district, representatives of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) and Assam Chah Karamchari Sangha (ACKS).