Assam: Ledo tea estate workers struggle with no doctors, no nurses

The Ledo Tea Estate, located just 12 kilometers from Margherita headquarters, has its own hospital, but it is severely understaffed. There are no doctors, nurses, or ward attendants, leaving only one compounder—who is unofficially regarded as the "doctor" of the estate—to manage patient care.

With over 1,000 workers at the estate, the lack of a permanent medical staff has led to significant challenges. The available medicines at the Ledo Tea Estate Hospital are often ineffective, forcing patients to seek proper medication from pharmacies in Ledo or Margherita.

Hari Nanda Gorh, Secretary of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha Margherita branch, expressed deep concern over the failure of McLeod Russell India Limited to appoint doctors at Ledo Tea Estate, as well as at Dirok Tea Estate and Sri Krishna Tea Estate, where more than 5,000 workers are employed. The workers' safety and health are jeopardized by the absence of adequate medical facilities, especially given the risks of accidents during their work hours.

Despite multiple discussions with McLeod Russell India Limited, which have only resulted in promises of future doctor appointments, no tangible improvements have been made. While the Assam Government has provided ambulances to all tea estates, the lack of qualified medical personnel remains a serious issue, as highlighted by Gorh.