Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) raises concern over livelihood of tea garden workers

A CORRESPONDENT

TANGLA: Amidst the uncertainty over the livelihood of the more than 2,000 odd tea garden workers of Dolu Tea Estate of Cachar over the clearance of tea bushes for setting up of Green Air Field, the fear of the tea garden workers that the move will lead to job loss and bring uncertainty over the future of their families and children was expressed by Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) Mangaldoi branch general secretary, Santiuse Kujur on Friday. He made a fervent appeal to the State Government to ensure employment and other rights to the tea estate workers before going ahead with the project.

Kujur, raising concerns over the livelihood of the tea garden workers of Dolu Tea Estate in Barak Valley, asserted that without assurance of alternative livelihood opportunities the implementation of the project was not feasible. Talking to this correspondent, Kujur said, "We are not against the proposed project but we are concerned over the loss of livelihood of the tea garden workers."

He further asserted, "If no alternative means of their livelihood is facilitated, the move of the government is not acceptable." He further raised concerns over the future of the children of the tea garden workers. "What will be the future course of action regarding their rehabilitation and employment?" he said.

Pertinently, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in February this year announced that an airport would be built using a part of Dolu tea garden. The government has estimated to pay a sum of Rs 50 crore to build the airport using 2,500 bigha land of the tea garden. The owner and stakeholders have purportedly agreed to go ahead with the deal but workers are unhappy with the decision.

TINSUKIA: The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) has expressed serious concern over proposed construction of Green Field Airport project at Dolu Tea Estate in Cachar district after evicting all settlements and uprooting tea plantations without any rehabilitation packages for workers.

Raju Sahu, ACMS vice-president and former Chabua MLA, in a press release on Friday stated that the livelihood of 2,382 workers of Dolu TE would be left in uncertainty. He said that the eviction and destruction of the tea garden were carried out after heavy deployment of security personnel with engagement of more than 150 JCBs despite protest and without considering the woes and cries of the tea workers. He also questioned the role of local political leaders. He wondered as to why the BJP government did not select other degraded land for the proposed GreenField Airport project.

The project would uproot more than 30 lakh tea plants, he said. While deploring the eviction drive and demanding suitable compensation, Sahu urged all workers' unions of Cachar district to fight united against such 'anti-worker' policies of the government.

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