Tea tribe body stages protest in Assam’s Dhekiajuli, raises wage and ST status demands

A tea tribe body on February 17 staged a three-hour sit-in protest in front of the Sub-Divisional Officer’s office in Assam’s Dhekiajuli, raising a series of demands concerning tea garden workers and the wider tea community.

The protest was organised by the Sonitpur district committee of the All Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATSA), with support from its Dhekiajuli branch committee and women’s wing.

The organisation demanded an increase in the daily wages of tea garden workers in accordance with the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Protesters alleged that tea workers continue to receive wages below acceptable standards and called for immediate government intervention.

ATSA also protested against tea garden managements approaching the court to challenge the government’s move to allot land to members of the tea community. The body termed such legal action anti-worker and urged authorities to safeguard the interests of tea tribe families.

Further, the organisation described the ongoing process of granting land pattas in tea garden areas as “misleading” and demanded that the process be made transparent and effective.

Among its key demands, the tea tribe body reiterated its call for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the tea community at the earliest.

The protest concluded after the submission of a memorandum to the concerned authorities.