Assam: Moran's Khowang Tea Garden Workers Made to Work Despite Lockdown

Dibrugarh, April 4, 2020:

Despite continued warnings of the grave consequences of COVID-19, tea workers in Assam are being made to work during the lockdown following the coronavirus pandemic.

In a latest report, Khowang Tea Estate located in Assam's Moran is continuing work in full swing with the tea garden workers doing the regular chores in this irregular and serious phase.

The Khowang Tea Estate employers today reportedly brought 25-30 tea garden workers in a vehicle on the pretext of spraying medicines in the area. Locals informed Moran Police about the lockdown violation and soon the Police personnel, with the help of journalists halted the work at the Tea Estate.

It needs mention here that the tea garden workers, one of the most underprivileged classes from Assam, are still being made to work by the employers of the estates without paying heed to their health and other concerns.

ALSO READ: 2-Year-Old Tripura Child Starves to Death amid COVID-19 Lockdown

Recently, All Adivasi Students‘ Association Secretary, Deben Urang had shed the light on the fact that there is little awareness among the community as far as the COVID-19 is concerned.

“At a time when the corona has hit the world, the Indian Government has called for a 21-day lockdown. In some tea gardens, the owners are continuing to make the employees work," he said.

The tea tribe leader also lamented that some tea tribe laborers were also not following the Government’s directives and they had stepped outside their houses and were loitering outside.

He further added that because the tea tribe community is economically vulnerable, they should be provided with facilities so that they are able to cope with the lockdown.

ALSO READ: 2 from Tripura Test Positive for COVID-19 in Rajasthan’s Bikaner

Currently Assam has 25 positive cases of COVID-19. Out of 25, only one is not linked to the Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi. The State is now taking extra preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus.

Assam Corona Update

Assam Health and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday announced that 111 samples have been collected from the close contacts of Manish Tibriwal, the first man from Guwahati city who was tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19) last night.

Addressing the media here earlier today, he said, “Yesterday, there were no cases, but several cases were detected in the evening, and in total, 5 more cases have been detected. Of the 5 new cases, 4 have connections to the Nizamuddin Dargah episode.” Yesterday, Manish Tibriwal a resident of Spanish Garden in Zoo Road tested positive for the coronavirus and last night, a team comprising the Health Minister and Principal Secretary, had discussions with his wife and promptly shifted him to the hospital for treatment, Sarma informed.

150 flats in Spanish Garden occupied by residents. Common facilities were used by all. On March 1, he came from Delhi, Sarma said, adding that he had likely picked up the virus from communications and interactions with locals in Guwahati as 28 days had elapsed since his return from Delhi.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Chirang Strawberry Entrepreneur Amarsingh Basumatary Reports Massive Losses amid Lockdown

For the next 14 days, nobody can go in or come out of the ‘Spanish Garden’ and 3-4 people have been assigned to distribute essentials to the families, the Health Minister informed the press.

This containment regulation must be followed by one and all, Sarma said, adding that since ‘Spanish Garden’ lies in the heart of the city, there could be a transmission across the city if the rules are violated.

Till now, 1,529 samples have been tested for the coronavirus, Sarma said. “Out of these, 1,308 samples have been declared as negative. 25 are positive, and 196 results awaited”.

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