Guwahati, March 10: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday that the BJP-led government in the state has increased the wages of tea garden workers by over 40% since 2021. He accused previous Congress governments of neglecting these workers for decades.
In a post on the social media platform X, Sarma stated that the state government is working to improve the socio-economic conditions of tea garden workers through higher wages and other welfare measures.
“The difference is clear. While the BJP government has raised the wages of tea workers by over 40% since 2021, Congress governments have only used them as a vote bank for decades,” he wrote.
Regarding the new wage amendment, Sarma mentioned that the daily wage of tea garden workers has been increased by ₹30. According to the new rates, workers in the Brahmaputra Valley will now receive ₹280 per day, while those in the Barak Valley will earn ₹258 per day.
He emphasized that this wage increase is part of the government’s efforts to honor the contributions of tea garden workers, whom he referred to as the backbone of Assam’s tea industry.
In recognition of the tea worker community, which is considered the backbone of Assam, the government has raised their daily wages and continues to acknowledge their hard work. Besides the wage increase, Sarma noted that the government has also taken steps to address long-standing issues affecting tea garden communities.
He stated that the state government has implemented several welfare schemes aimed at improving the livelihoods of tea garden workers, including providing land rights and reservation benefits, as well as enhancing the living standards in tea garden areas.
These initiatives by the Assam government aim to rectify the “historical injustices” faced by the tea garden community. It is noteworthy that a significant population of tea garden workers in Assam plays a crucial role in the state’s large tea industry, which is vital for the economy and provides livelihoods for millions across various districts.