ATTSU stages protest, demands implementation of Plantations Labour Act

From a Correspondent

Dibrugarh, Dec 14: Voicing their unprecedented support on the subject of amendment to the Plantations Labour Act (PLA) of 1951, the members of the District Committee of the Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Union (ATTSU) staged a demonstration before the office of the  Assistant Labour Commissioner on Tuesday. The ATTSU members through the protest also demanded enforceable implementation of the PLA in its entirety.

The members of ATTSA, in presence of  president Rajen Kumar and general secretary  Lalit Mahali, also  submitted a  memorandum to  Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal through the Assistant Labour Commissioner. Through the memorandum ATTSA leaders urged upon CM Sonowal to take immediate steps to ensure the early resolution of the prevailing difficulties of the tea plantation workers.

Furthermore, certain other issues were also incorporated in the memorandum in which the ATTSA leaders have demanded hike in daily wage of the workers, training on use of ATMs, punishment to plantation magement for not depositing provident funds and ban on child labour.

The agitating students’ body members also expressed their deep concern over the fact that even after 69 years of independence, no firm policy was articulated for the welfare and development of the tea workers and their families.  Tea workers, as alleged  by the ATTSA leaders, are  being exploited , neglected and oppressed  due to lack of proper implementation of the PLA.