Assam has over 10 lakh tea workers in the organised sector working in 856 tea estates producing around 55 per cent of India s tea. Tea tribe communities are determining factors in around 25 to 30 seats in 126-seated Assam Assembly. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, which after coming to power in 2016 had increased the wages of the tea workers by Rs 30, and on February 20 the state government decided to hike the daily wages to regular 7,46,667 tea garden workers by Rs 50 from Rs 167 to Rs 217. However, the implementation of the Rs 50 a day hike in wages for tea garden workers is likely to be delayed as a petition filed by the Indian Tea Association (ITA).
Ahead of Assembly polls in Assam, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the Central government, saying Assam s tea garden workers have been getting Rs 167 per day wage while traders in Gujarat own tea gardens. Assam s tea garden workers get Rs 167 per day wage while traders in Gujarat get tea gardens. We promise to give tea garden workers of Assam Rs 365 per day wage. Where will the money come from? It will come from Gujarat s traders, Rahul Gandhi said as he assured tea workers of increasing their wages in Assam. No power in the world can break Assam. Whoever will try to touch the Assam Accord or spread hatred, Congress party and people of Assam will teach them a lesson together, he said.