Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) conducts awareness meets on coronavirus across tea gardens

A Correspondent

UDALGURI: To ensure that social distancing and safety measures are put to place after resumption of normal functioning of tea estates in Udalguri district during the lockdown, the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) Mangaldoi branch has conducted awareness drive across the 22 tea gardens under its jurisdiction .

As part of the effort, secretary of ACMS Mangaldoi branch, Santiuse Kujur along with the office bearers visited the tea gardens and held interactive sessions with the management and garden workers to ensure the compliance of standard operating procedures as laid down by the district administration and also to maintain contact with administrative officials on regular basis.

Talking to this correspondent, Kujur said, “I have already visited Nonaipara, Borengajuli, Hattigore, Majuli, Bhutichang, Orangajuli, Dimakuchi, Attarikhat, Dharamjuli, Corramore, Panery and Budlapara Tea Estates and will cover the rest in a couple of days.” He further said, “The early resumption of the gardens amid the second phase of lockdown was the need of the hour as the tea garden workers were facing lots of hardships to sustain themselves. There is restriction in the entry of outsiders in the tea gardens, the workers have been put to work maintaining social distancing norms and they are wearing masks.”

“We are paid Rs 167 as wages by the industry, much lower than other sectors and if work had not resumed, hunger would have killed us before coronavirus,” said Madhabi Bhumij (45), a tea worker of Dimakuchi TE and a mother of three. Another worker, Mungamati Das (42) said, “We were expecting hike in wages prior to lockdown but the pandemic has washed away our hopes as we don’t think hike will materialize now.”

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