Assam tea factory faces outrage over alleged barefoot packing of tea leaves in Dibrugarh

A controversy has erupted in Assam's Dibrugarh district after allegations surfaced that tea leaves were packed by workers using their bare feet at a private tea factory in Lahowal.

The allegations relate to Sonjyoti Tea & India Private Limited, located at Madarkhat in Lahowal, where workers were allegedly seen trampling tea leaves with their bare feet during the packaging process. The purported incident has sparked widespread outrage among local residents and drawn criticism from student organisations, with concerns being raised over hygiene standards and consumer safety.

Reacting to the allegations, the Lahowal Regional Students' Union described the reported practice as highly deplorable and termed it a serious threat to public health. The organisation demanded stringent legal action against those found responsible and called for a thorough inquiry into the matter.

The students' body also questioned the role of the Food Safety Department and the Tea Board in monitoring tea manufacturing units. It urged the authorities to conduct regular inspections of tea factories across the region to ensure compliance with hygiene and food safety standards and to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

Warning of intensified protests, the union said it would launch a mass agitation if such incidents were reported again in the future.

An official response from the management of Sonjyoti Tea & India Private Limited or the regulatory agencies was not immediately available at the time of filing the report.