HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Aug 10: The daily wages of tea garden workers in the state has been hiked by Rs 27, the second increase in such payments since the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government came to power in the state in May last year.
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The decision to revise the wages was taken in a meeting among Sarma, representatives of tea associations and workers’ unions.
“Happy to share that in a meeting with tea associations, it was decided to hike the workers’ wage by Rs 27, thus raising their daily wage to Rs 232 and Rs 210 in Brahmaputra Valley & Barak Valley respectively,” the chief minister wrote on Twitter.
Sarma said welfare of tea garden workers has always been his government’s top priority.
He said the cash hike in daily wages of tea garden workers is “over and above the ration and other benefits”.
“All garden workers will get ration cards & we urged the gardens to take Fair Price Shop licenses. Representatives of Indian Tea Association, NE Tea Association,Tea Association of India, Bharatiya Chah Parishad, Assam Tea Planters’ Association & Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha were present,” he said on the microblogging site.
Traditionally, tea workers’ wages are largely paid in two components -cash and other benefits such as ration, health services and education.
The previous wage revision was done in May last year soon after Sarma became the chief minister, and it was made effective from February 22, 2021.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Sarma also assured the planters of raising the government subsidy for orthodox tea from Rs 7 to Rs 10 per kg.
Finance, Social Welfare minister Ajanta Neog, minister of Welfare of Tea Tribes Sanjay Kisan, Industries and Commerce minister Bimal Bora, president of Assam Tea Mazdoor Sangha Pawan Singh Ghatowar, MLA Rupesh Gowala and several senior officers of government were present at the meeting.
The State Industry and Commerce minister Bimal Borah had on Tuesday held a meeting with small tea growers and workers for the fixation of wages.
“…representatives from the various tea workers’ unions have been requesting that the worker’s wages be fixed.
“Hence, chaired a meeting, today with the Hon’ble Minister of Tea Tribes Welfare & Labour Welfare @sanjoykishan1 dangoriya & other associated officials to finalise the wages of Small Tea Garden Workers as per direction by the Hon’ble CM in the meeting on May 24, 2022,” Borah said on the microblogging site.
No announcement on the wages of small tea garden workers has been made yet.
Assam produced 667.73 million kg of tea in 2021, of which small gardens accounted for 311.12 million kg, as per Tea Board India data.
The overall tea production in the country was 1,343.06 million kg. (With PTI inputs)
