MLAs express concern over poor living condition of tea garden workers

From a Correspondent

Tezpur, Nov 21: Besides other tea gardens of the State, the poor living condition of the people living in different labour lines of the tea gardens in Dhekiajuli area under Sonitpur district also paints a very pathetic picture. For studying and going deep into the issue, a team the Assembly Advisory Committee comprising MLAs of different constituencies, including Suman Haripriya, rayan Deka, Gurujyoti Das, Bhabesh Kalita, Majendra zary, Kamal Singh zary, Nijanur Rahman and zrul Haque, under the chairmanship of Mazendra rzary and guided by local MLA of 72 No-Dhekiajuli Legislative Constituency, Ashok Kumar Singhal, on Monday visited the tea garden areas falling under the Assembly Constituency segment.

Of the agriculture based industries, tea plantation occupies an important place in Dhekiajuli. In  Dhekiajuli area  there are over 20 tea gardens, including Arun Tea Estate, Belsiri Tea Estate, Dhirai Tea Estate, Dhekiajuli Tea Estate,  Mobag Tea Estate, Tulip Tea Estate,  Dibru Darrang Tea Estate,  Hoograjuli Tea Estate,  Dhirajuli Tea Estate,  rayanpur Tea Estate,  Sopai Tea Estate,  Mon-Mohonipur Tea Estate, Singri Tea Estate,  Panbari Tea Estate,  Samaguri Tea Estate,  Tinekharia Tea Estate,  Charduar Tea Estate,  Dikorai Tea Estate,  Ghiladhari Tea Estate and  Tupia Tea Estate, where basic amenities like pure drinking water facility, road communication, health and sanitation, electricity facility and education are still a far cry for the people.

 The team, accompanied by a handful of media persons and local social workers, visited most of the mentioned TEs and interacted with the people and various organizations representing the tea community people like AASAA and AATSA to understand their basic problems like health, sanitation, education and dwelling. The team also received memorandum from the tea community organizations that highlighted their problems and committed to address the same. During their visit, the team witnessed the poor condition of various labour lines where modern education system and a hygienic life are still a dream.

Meanwhile, after visiting tea garden areas, expressing grave concern over the long-pending issue of the tea garden people living in various tea gardens in the region, local MLA Ashok Kumar Singhal said that though the tea companies were fulfilling their own interest since India’s independence, they were yet to honour those people because of whom they were surviving. “It is very unfortute that the tea companies always show a false picture of loss of their business to exploit the labourers. If it is so then how are they surviving in their business?” he questioned, adding that their appeal was that the tea companies should be honest and transparent in dealing with the labourers who were the backbone of their business.

Meanwhile, expressing their satisfaction at getting the leaders at their doorstep, the people of the tea garden areas said that earlier after election no public leader visited their area to understand their issues. “But this time we are delighted that our leaders, as per their pre-poll commitment, are visiting our areas and we are hopeful that our grievance will be addressed adequately,” the labourers said.

Moreover, the Assembly Advisory Committee chairman, Mazendra rzary said before the media persons that the memorandum submitted by different organizations revealing grievances of the tea garden people would be discussed in the Assembly and a way would be paved for the solution of the long-pending issue. “Our next target is to visit the tea garden areas of Barak valley,” he said.