Assam government to set up tea estate markets

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has said it will set up about 25 nutrition shops across the state under a special project of the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission Society (ASRLMS).

The shops, called “Bagan Bazar” ( tea estate market), will be established as part of the state government’s effort to improve the health of the people residing in the tea gardens, it said.

The government said the objective is to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the state besides improving the general health condition of the tea garden community, especially women and adolescent girls.

ASRLMS is setting up these shops in collaboration with the Tea Tribes Welfare Department, the Food & Civil Supplies Department and Assam Gramin Vikash Bank (AGVB), besides various tea garden associations.

The shops, which will stack nutritional foods and grocery items, will be run by selected self-help groups that comply with the norms of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.

Space for the shops have been provided by the managing authorities of the tea gardens.