Guwahati, March 10: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday that the BJP-led government in the state has raised 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 status of tea garden workers through higher wages and other welfare measures.
“The difference is clear. While the BJP government has increased the wages of tea workers by over 40% since 2021, the Congress governments used them merely as a vote bank for decades,” Sarma wrote.
Regarding the wage revision, the Chief Minister mentioned that the daily wage for tea garden workers has been increased by ₹30. According to the new rates, workers in the Brahmaputra Valley will now earn ₹280 per day, while those in the Barak Valley will receive ₹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 recognizing 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. In addition to the wage hike, Sarma noted that the government has also taken steps to address long-standing issues affecting tea garden communities.
He mentioned that the state government has implemented several welfare schemes aimed at improving the livelihoods of tea garden workers, including granting land rights, providing reservation benefits, and enhancing 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 Assam has a large population of tea garden workers who play a crucial role in the state’s significant tea industry, which is vital to the economy and provides livelihoods for millions in several districts.