Dibrugarh: Tea garden workers across upper Assam, including Dibrugarh, staged a one-hour protest on Wednesday under the banner of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS). The demonstrations focused on the sale of tea garden lands for commercial purposes.
Leading the protest at Bokpara Tea Estate in Dibrugarh was Paban Singh Ghatowar, former Union DoNER Minister and ACMS president. Ghatowar and the workers voiced their strong opposition to the sale of tea garden land for non-agricultural activities, emphasizing the threat it poses to their livelihoods.
Also Read: Nagaland: NSLSA provides Rs 36.85 lakh victim compensation to 17 people
“Tea gardens are our source of income and survival,” stressed Ghatowar. “If the tea plants and gardens disappear, where will the tea plantation workers go?”
The ACMS president highlighted that they have raised this concern with the Central government, the state government, and tea garden owners.
Beyond the land issue, the protest also addressed broader concerns related to the well-being of tea garden workers.
Also Read: Assam: Pistol used in Bajali murder case recovered, land dispute suspected
Nabin Chandra Keot, ACMS Dibrugarh secretary and central vice president, emphasized the urgency of their demands. He pointed out the poor condition of most garden quarters and urged the government to intervene and address these issues.
The protest concluded with a memorandum submitted to the garden manager outlining the workers’ demands. Similar demonstrations took place in various tea estates across Tinsukia and Sivasagar districts.