Dibrugarh: Workers of Mohanbari Tea Estate in Dibrugarh held a one-hour demonstration on Tuesday, pressing the garden management on a range of demands, including cash payment of wages, provision of firewood and repair of workers’ quarters.
The agitation was organised by the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS). Workers raised slogans during the demonstration and listed several grievances that they say have remained unaddressed for an extended period.
Key Demand: Cash Wage Payments
A key demand was the restoration of cash wage payments. Workers said that although wages are disbursed every 15 days, the current system of bank transfers has created practical difficulties as the ATM inside the garden remains non-functional most of the time, forcing workers to travel to Mohanbari town to withdraw money.
“We have to go all the way to Mohanbari town just to access our wages. It wastes our time and causes unnecessary hardship. We want wages paid in cash,” said a protesting worker.
Other Grievances Raised
Workers also demanded the supply of firewood, which they said has not been provided by the management as required under existing norms. They further flagged the absence of slabs over large drains inside the garden, which they described as a safety concern. Other demands raised during the demonstration included repair of dilapidated workers’ quarters, better medical facilities for pregnant women, an ambulance within the garden, improved infrastructure at the garden school, and access to clean drinking water and nutritious food.
Nabin Chandra Keot, vice president of the ACMS, said the issues raised were longstanding. “These demands are not new. The management needs to address them in a time-bound manner,” he said.
The demonstration was attended by ACMS Dibrugarh unit organising secretary Niranjan Rajowar, Arati Nayak, president of the ACMS primary unit of Mohanbari Tea Estate, and secretary Promila Tanti. A memorandum was submitted to the management at the end of the protest.
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