Give 20% bonus to labours, APCC urge Tea companies

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Oct 1: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Thursday urged the private tea companies to give 20 per cent Puja bonus to the labourers. The demand has been made after the State government announced 20 per cent bonus for the labourers working in the State owned Assam Tea Corporation tea gardens. The Assam Tea Corporation has 15 tea estates in the State.  Addressing the media in Guwahati, APCC vice president Bhagirath Karan said that the private tea companies as well as the small tea growers should follow the government and give 20 per cent Puja bonus. Stating that the Tata Tea is not willing to provide 20 per cent bonus, he said that as the production is good this year, they should not cheat the labourers. On the other hand, speaking on the Scheduled Tribe status row, the APCC vice president said, “Not only the tea tribe, the Centre should accord ST status to all. The BJP said they will confer the ST status by September 15, now it is October. What happened to the promise made?” He further added that, if the BJP led Central government continues neglecting the issue, the APCC will take out massive agitation soon.  On being asked, why they failed to press for it during the UPA time, he said, “The Congress never gave any deadline, the BJP did and they deceived the people.” Meanwhile, when asked about the rise in Maoist activities in the Tea belts, he said, “The tea tribes are being exploited and it has led to Maoism and extremism in the areas.”