ATTSA holds separate demonstrations demanding permanent land pattas, higher wages for tea garden workers and Scheduled Tribe status for the Tea Tribes community
Guwahati: The Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA) staged separate protests in Margherita and Kaliabor on Thursday, November 12, pressing the Assam government to address the long-pending demands of the Tea Tribes community.
In Margherita, the association’s Margherita and Pengeree branch committees, along with the Assam Tea Tribes Women’s Association, Margherita unit, organised a three-hour sit-in outside the Co-District Commissioner’s office.
The protesters raised three key demands: permanent land pattas for tea garden workers, Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the community and an increase in daily wages. They warned of a stronger democratic movement if the government failed to address their concerns.
A similar demonstration was organised by ATTSA’s Kaliabor unit outside the Co-District Commissioner’s office. Protesters also criticised several representatives of the Tea Tribes community over what they described as a lack of progress on these issues.
Following the demonstration, the Kaliabor unit submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through the Co-District Commissioner, formally placing its demands before the state government.
Both demonstrations highlighted the community’s continuing concerns over land ownership, fair wages and recognition under the Scheduled Tribe category.
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