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Concerns Raised Over Unfulfilled Promises

Guwahati, June 24: The Congress party has criticized the Assam government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for failing to support the tea garden community, pointing to unmet commitments and worsening conditions in the tea-producing regions.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Roselina Tirkey, the executive president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), condemned the administration under Himanta Biswa Sarma for not delivering on the promise to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the tea community.

“The BJP made significant promises regarding the recognition of the tea community and ST status for six groups. However, after a decade, these commitments remain unfulfilled,” Tirkey stated.

She expressed alarm that if the current situation persists, the tea community's identity could be completely erased from Assam.

Highlighting the increase in violence against women in tea estates, she remarked, “While the government promotes ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, young girls in tea garden areas are subjected to horrific crimes. A seven-year-old was recently raped and murdered in Tinsukia—where is the safety for our children?”

Tirkey also criticized the inadequate healthcare facilities in the tea belt, saying, “Health centers exist, but they lack doctors and essential medicines. The government seems more interested in appearances than in genuine welfare.”

Former MLA Raju Chahu launched a fierce critique of the government’s “corporate approach” to the tea industry, asserting, “The BJP aims to reduce the tea garden community to a state of dependency. They are treating tea estates as mere real estate. Ministers are behaving like land brokers. If this trend continues, we will see the demise of tea gardens, replaced by land speculation.”

Chahu also raised concerns about the implementation of the Rs 5,000 assistance program for tea workers, questioning, “Of the 12.8 lakh workers, only about 6 lakh have received aid. What about the others? Is compassion now selective?”

Youth leader Pranjal Ghatowar pointed out the alarming dropout rates among children in tea garden areas, attributing this to poor educational infrastructure.

“Schools were provincialized during the Congress era. Today, while the BJP constructs school buildings, they fail to provide teachers. This has led to a significant number of dropouts. Some individuals misuse tea tribe certificates to gain admission to universities and medical colleges,” he claimed.

“The dropout rates are highest among Adivasi children, and the government has done nothing to remedy this situation,” he added.

Former minister Atuwa Munda echoed these sentiments, stating, “The BJP government is impoverishing tea garden workers. They boast about school infrastructure, but these are empty shells without staff. What they provide is superficial; what they take away is substantial. Even the labor department has been undermined.”

Congress leaders also criticized the cessation of welfare programs initiated during their tenure, alleging that benefits from schemes like Orunodoi are being distributed selectively among BJP affiliates.

They collectively asserted that despite nearly a decade in power, the BJP government has failed to deliver on its key electoral promises to the tea garden community.