Assam Tea Tribes' Students' Association announced complete shutdown of all tea gardens on March 22

Assam Tea Tribes' Students' Association(ATTSA) on Thursday announced complete shutdown of all tea gardens in Brahmaputra and Barak valley on March 22 alleging negligent attitude towards tea workers of Assam.

ATTSA president Dhiraj Gowala said that government has failed to address problems of tea workers.

"The government has given 'lollipop' to the tea workers by hiking the wage to Rs 217. Additional Rs 50 was hiked by the government. We are demanding Rs 351 daily wage hike," Gowala said.


Gauhati high court has recently asked government not to take any coercive action against the tea companies and an association for not complying with wage revision notification of tea workers in Assam. The case is listed for March 15.

Recently, BJP led government in Assam has increased the daily wages of tea workers from Rs 167 to Rs 217.Following which Indian Tea Association and 17 others tea planters have moved high Court.

Gowala said issue of tea wages has been politicised. “Workers are not getting the enhanced wages. ATTSA have decided to move to Gauhati High Court for writ petition against wage hike issue".

Wages revision of tea workers is an election issue in Assam with opposition including congress attacking the BJP led government for deliberately delaying wage revision for the last several years.

Congress alleged that Prime minister Narendra Modi has promised to revise the daily wages of tea workers in Assam to Rs 350 prior to 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Assam has over 10 lakh tea workers in the organised sector working in 850 tea estates. Assam roughly produces 55 percent of India’s tea. Tea tribe community are determining votes in 30 to 35 assembly seats.