In a powerful display of public demand, hundreds of tea garden workers and local residents from the Katlicherra tea garden area in Assam's Hailakandi district took to the streets on Wednesday. They staged a significant protest, calling for the immediate start of construction for the proposed medical college and hospital at Rangabak in Katlicherra.
Massive Procession and Public Outcry
The demonstration, organized by the Katlicherra Bagan Tea Shramik Medical College Hospital Demand Committee, saw a large procession emerge from the Katlicherra tea garden factory premises. The crowd, carrying placards and chanting slogans, marched towards the proposed site for the college. Their primary demand was directed at Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging him to take swift action to ensure the college is built at the designated location in Rangabak.
Warning Against Alleged Conspirators
The protestors issued a stern warning to individuals they described as "conspirators" attempting to obstruct the vital healthcare project. According to the organizing committee, a "vested interest group" has been actively misleading sections of the local population to oppose the project for personal gain. The workers reiterated their strong support for the chief minister's initiative but demanded immediate concrete steps to begin construction. They cautioned the alleged disruptors against any further interference.
Root of the Controversy: Land Selection
The core of the controversy lies in the identification of land for the medical college. Following the chief minister's public announcement, local circle officers were tasked with selecting a suitable plot. The district administration, after its survey, reportedly identified the site at Rangabak in Katlicherra as the most appropriate location for the institution. The protestors are now demanding that the process move forward without delay, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced medical infrastructure in the region to serve the tea garden community and wider public.
