All is Not Well with the Tea Garden Workers of Assam, Says CAG Report Tabled in Assam Assembly

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its latest report on implementation of Schemes for Welfare of Tea Tribes of Assam has painted a shabby picture of the tea estates in Assam.

According to the audit findings which is part of the CAG report tabled in the Assam Assembly which concluded yesterday, the tea garden workers in Assam have faced poor social and economic conditions and their low income and lack of education have been major barriers to their overall development.

It maybe mentioned here that, in a first, Assam government has introduced a 3% reservation for tea tribes and the adivasi community in state government jobs, besides the OBC and SC quotas. This was announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the assembly on August 29.

The various schemes implemented did not significantly improve the well being of the tea garden workers.
In terms of healthcare, not all tea estates had garden hospitals, and the ones that did, suffer from lack of infrastructure and manpower, the CAG report said.

In the education sector, inadequate infrastructure, shortage of teachers and absence of free uniforms for the children of the tea garden managed schools were major issues, leading to a decreasing trend in student enrolment.

Housing facilities for tea workers were inadequate, with poorly maintained house, lack of proper drinking water, sanitations and basic amenities in labour houses/lines. Regarding the Minimum Wage Act, the state government’s intervention in fixing minimum wages for tea workers was insufficient. Furthermore, the implementation of labour laws and workers welfare provisions in tea estates showed several shortcomings and areas of concern.

Based on the findings, the CAG has recommended that the Tea Tribes Welfare Department (TTWD) needs to carry out survey or census of tea tribes for basic data in order to formulate realistic policies.
Here are the recommendations made by CAG in the report:

• TTWD may prepare annual action plans for selection and implementation of schemes in an organised manner.

• TTWD needs to formulate strategy to extend the coverage of centrally sponsored/central sector schemes.

• TTWD should identify the root cause for low utilisation of budget.

Health and Family Welfare Department and Tea Garden Management should review the manpower position in tea garden hospitals.

• TTWD should prepare beneficiaries list prior to launch schemes.

• Labour and Welfare Department should adhere to CSS and the mandate it derives under APL Rules 1956.

• Efforts should be made to implement right to education Act, 2009 in all tea estate schools and ensure availability of requisite infrastructure and manpower.

• Labour and Welfare Department should implement the basic housing facilities.

• Government should review inclusion of statutory items under wages and review the actual implementation.

• The Labour Department needs to ensure that all the provisions of Assam Minimum Wages Rules 1952 and Assam Plantation Labour Rules 1956 are implemented in an efficient manner.

Also read: https://northeastlivetv.com/around-ne/assam/assam-assembly-ends-2-hour-friday-namaz-break-end-of-another-vestige-of-colonial-baggage-says-cm-sarma/