Assam Tea Gardens to Resume Functions with Strict Adherence to COVID-19 Protocol

Guwahati, April 11, 2020:

Assam tea gardens are at a deciding phase on the resumption of full-scale operations. While some of them will be resuming operations with 50 percent workforce and COVID-19 protocol intact, some await official permission to start working.

In districts like Darrang, Udalguri, Dibrugarh and Charaideo, the tea gardens have begun operating with official permissions granted by the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) for the same. The Tea Estates, Small Tea Growers (STGs) and Bought Leaf Factories (BLFs) in Dibrugarh, Darrang and Udalguri have been granted.

Bagan Bazars in Dibrugah are to be kept closed. Instructions were given to all the stakeholders to develop a mechanism involving local youths for door-to-door delivery of essentials.

The tea garden management has also been asked to consider payment of wages to workers for March 23-24, the two days that Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (ATTSA) declared a bandh.

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In Charaideo, official permission has been granted only to STGs and BLFs. Tea Estates will be allowed at a later stage. Deputy Commissioner Palash Ranjan Gharphalia said that the small tea growers would have to strictly adhere to the principle of social distancing and other COVID-19 protocol.

Districts like Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon and Sonitpur also await the official orders. Meetings have been held already in these areas on the operations of the tea gardens.

Sivasagar and Tinsukia will discuss the matters on Saturday regarding resuming the work. It may be mentioned here that the tea gardens in Assam have decided to resume operations partially in the next two-three days adhering to social distancing, 50 percent workforce, wearing masks and maintaining hygiene and safety measures.

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Earlier, Dispur made it clear that the tea gardens can resume operations with permission from district authorities and according to the norms set by the health department.

The tea industry has been in a lockdown since March 24. The tea garden workers have been gravely hit by the coronavirus lockdown that shut the work for sometime. With a few days left until the lockdown is over and with the States discussing on lockdown extension for another term, uncertainty hovers over the workers.

Assam Corona Update:

Meanwhile Assam recorded a total of 29 corona cases with one fatality. Out of the active 28 now, 26 have connections with the Tablighi Jamaat held at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi.

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has assured that PPE kits and N95 masks are available in the State. He also informed that one lakh rapid test kits will be brought to the State and in the next three days, 50,000 kits of PPE will arrive in the State.

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