Plight of TE workers reflected in Assembly panel’s report, the increasing number of accidental cases in TEs worries committee

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The plight of tea estate workers in the state, including their facilities and living conditions, was reflected in the report of the Departmentally Related Standing Committee of the Assam Legislative Assembly. The committee expressed its worry over the increasing number of accidental cases in factories owned by tea estates.

The Departmentally Related Standing Committee on Development (B) Departments, headed by Ramendra Narayan Kalita of the State Assembly, reviewed the budgetary provisions for the Labour and Employment Department for the financial year 2023-24. During the review, the plight of the tea workers in the state came to the fore. Based on the findings, the committee prepared a report.

The Committee observed that accidental cases are increasing in the tea estate factories, causing massive injuries to many factory labourers. The committee, therefore, recommended that the department take adequate measures to stop such incidents in tea estate factories at the earliest possible time. The Committee also recommended that the Department make a sudden visit to the factories during their running time in the tea estates to look after the conditions and safety measures of the working labour. The Committee also recommended that the Department submit a list of the accidental cases caused in the tea factories as soon as possible.

The Committee also observed during the course of discussion with the departmental representatives that there are not sufficient numbers of doctors and nursing staff members in the hospitals of most of the tea gardens.

The Committee recommended that the department take the necessary steps to fill up the required posts of doctors, nurses, and others wherever necessary.

According to the Committee, most of the tea gardens in the state do not have welfare officers to monitor the welfare activities of the labourers. The Assembly committee recommended that the department take the necessary steps for the appointment of welfare officers in the tea gardens.