Demanding central government’s intervention, the Chah Mukti Sangram Samity, Assam on Monday submitted a memorandum to union minister of state for labour and employment Santosh Gangwar seeking an urgent attention to fulfill their long pending demands.
The samity under the aegis of Chaay Bagan Sangram Samity (CBSS) has also staged a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar pressing for their demands.
“It’s a matter of great concern that after seven decades since independence, the situation of tea garden workers of Assam is pathetic and exploitative. The provision of PLA 1951 is not fully implemented in many tea gardens in Assam,” said Muruli Tanti, president, Chah Mukti Sangram Samity.
He said that the daily wage rate is merely Rs 167, raised from Rs 137 in 2017. “Arrears for the same are not paid from January 1, 2018,” he said.
He said that minimum wage of 1948 has also not been implemented in the sector which pushes the tea garden workers into perpetual uncertainty and non-regulation.
Demanding proper healthcare for the tea garden workers, Tanti said, “There should be a hospital for healthcare and medical facilities for all tea workers labourers as well as the other working staff in all gardens, and qualified doctors should be appointed and assisted by the qualified nursing staff for the concerned hospital.”