RBI has relaxed norms for wage payment to tea workers: Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: Tea workers gets a leg up with Reserve Bank of India ( RBI) making relaxation in wage payments.The cap on withdrawal is relaxed for tea gardens.

Following demonetisation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, tea garden management has sought governments help for payment of wages which are made to tea workers on the weekly and fortnightly basis in cash.

Assam finance minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma said RBI has made relaxation, where tea garden management will give the cheques to Deputy Commissioners (DC) and DC being a government, will withdraw the requisite amount and pay to garden management.

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Sarma said cash situation would normalize in the state in another 3 to 4 days. "People are enduring some trouble. However, people are happy with it. SBI alone has replaced Rs 2600 crore in the state in last three days, besides about another Rs 1000 crore by the other banks."

Former industry minister and senior Congress leader, Pradyut Bordoloi said that "wages issue may result in unrest in Upper Assam. The wage issue is far from being settled as I have talked to tea associations and unions."

He added, "Around 94 per cent ATMs in Assam are not functioning properly. The cash flow to banks is less in comparison to rest of the country."