Guwahati, May 11 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Monday said that the NDA government would continue to prioritise the welfare of tea garden workers in the state and promised a phased increase in daily wages up to Rs 500 in the coming years.

Highlighting the BJP-led government’s initiatives for the tea community over the last decade, Sarma said the NDA has worked extensively for the holistic development of ‘Cha Shramiks’, whom he described as the backbone of Assam’s 200-year-old tea legacy.

Taking to social media, the Chief Minister said: “For the last 10 years, the NDA Government has worked for the holistic development of Assam’s Cha Shramiks, who are the backbone of our 200-year-old tea legacy. In NDA 3.0, we will further strengthen the lives and livelihoods of every Cha Shramik with a phased wage increase to Rs 500.”

The Chief Minister also highlighted several welfare and educational measures undertaken by the government for tea garden communities. According to official data shared by the Chief Minister’s Office, the Assam government has established 118 model high schools in tea garden areas between 2021 and 2026 to improve access to quality education for children from tea worker families.

The government has now set a target to establish 100 more model high schools in tea garden regions in a phased manner between 2026 and 2031.

Officials said the initiatives are aimed at improving socio-economic conditions in tea garden areas by focussing on education, healthcare, skill development and livelihood generation.

The tea tribe community constitutes a significant population in Assam and plays a crucial role in the state’s economy through its contribution to the tea industry, one of Assam’s largest employment-generating sectors.

The BJP-led NDA government has repeatedly stressed inclusive growth and welfare-oriented policies for tea garden workers, including financial assistance schemes, housing support, scholarships and healthcare benefits.

–IANS

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