Tea industry being pushed to decline under BJP rule: Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha secy
ACMS secy Raju Sahu also criticised the delay in granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to tea tribes, a promise he said was made to be fulfilled within 100 days.
He accused the government of misleading tea workers with promises of land pattas.
Jorhat, Apr 3: Amid the intensifying election atmosphere in Assam, former Tinsukia MLA and Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha secretary Raju Sahu on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP government, alleging that the tea industry in the state is being pushed towards decline.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhawan in Jorhat, Sahu claimed that despite winning elections with the support of tea garden workers and having leaders from the tea community in positions of power, the ruling dispensation has failed to safeguard their interests.
He alleged that over the past 11 years, tea gardens have been driven towards deterioration without any concrete policy or legal framework to protect the over 200-year-old tea industry of Assam.
“No meaningful steps have been taken to protect tea gardens. As a result, multinational companies are gradually taking control and weakening the industry,” Sahu said.
Raising the issue of land rights, he accused the government of misleading tea workers with promises of land pattas.
“Announcements were made across tea gardens, but not a single worker has received land ownership. Instead, forms were distributed, and later excuses were made citing legal hurdles,” he alleged.
Sahu also questioned the government’s employment claims, stating that while a 3 percent job reservation for tea garden youth was announced, there is no clarity on how many have actually benefited. He further pointed out that the promise of Rs 351 daily wages for tea workers remains unfulfilled even after 11 years.
The former MLA also criticised the delay in granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to tea tribes, a promise he said was made to be fulfilled within 100 days.
“Even after more than a decade, the promise remains unfulfilled,” he said.
Expressing concern over the future of the tea industry, Sahu alleged that policies favouring a few corporate entities were harming local producers. He claimed that the import of low-quality tea from countries like Kenya, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at cheaper rates has adversely impacted Assam’s tea market.
“While production costs in Assam exceed Rs 200 per kg, imported tea is entering the market at around Rs 150 per kg. This is making it difficult for local producers to compete, pushing tea gardens into decline,” he said.
He further alleged that several reputed companies have already exited the tea business in Assam, selling off their estates and moving to other sectors.
Sahu warned that if the current trend continues, the tea industry—on which lakhs of people depend—could face severe economic distress. He also alleged the existence of a “syndicate” system in the tea sector.
After the press conference, Sahu visited nearby tea gardens and interacted with workers. He was accompanied by Adivasi Congress Jorhat district president Dinesh Tonglai.