Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday said that his Government is committed to ensuring the implementation of the Plantation labour Act 1951 and said that the Government would go tough against those who violate it. “I have asked the tea gardens for the implementation of the Act. They have assured me but, they are yet to implement it,” said Gogoi while interacting with the newsmen on Thursday.
“The tea garden and the char areas (riverine sandbars) are the most backward areas. The areas have been left behind in all sectors — including health, education, and nutrition etc,” said Gogoi while adding that his Government had also been laying special attention for their development. Gogoi said that the Government had already taken 31 cases against tea gardens who had not implemented the Act.
Giving statistics about the underdevelopment of the areas, the Chief Minister pointed out that there has been a lack of over 43,000 housing for the tea garden labourers in the State. Similarly, there is a shortage of about 57,000 units of proper sanitation and over 9,000 potable water points in the gardens. “There is shortage of 2,209 doctors and 150 nurses,” said the Chief Minister while adding that the Government had already made a thorough study about the whole issue.
Gogoi said that the minimum wages for the unskilled labourers in the tea gardens is Rs 169 per day and the gardens must implement this. The Chief Minister also admitted the failure of the Government in the past to ensure the implementation of the Act, but added, “We have taken the matter seriously now and are going to ensure its implementation.”
Meanwhile, the Assam Chief Minister also took up the issue of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and said that the Government had asked the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police to provide top priority to the NRC. “There have been some fears among the people about the NRC. Some are thinking that their names will not be enrolled. However, I want to ensure that the updated NRC will have the names of all those, who are genuine Indian citizens according to the Indian Constitution,” he said.