In Kakchang of Bokakhat co-district, workers of small tea gardens staged a protest today by stopping work to demand their rightful wages. Although the Assam Government has fixed the daily wage of tea workers at ₹280, the owners of small tea gardens in the region have continued to pay only ₹200.

Despite repeated protests over a long period, the garden owners have taken no steps to increase wages. With the rising prices of essential commodities in the market, the workers expressed strong resentment against being paid only ₹200. Under the leadership of the Bokakhat co -district Committee of the All Assam Adivasi Students’ Union ,the workers stopped work and staged a protest.

At the protest site, they demanded payment of their due wages and the minimum benefits guaranteed under the Plantation Labour Act. The president of the co -district Committee, Surajit Paik, and vice-president Bimal Proja were present. Surajit Paik stated that if the garden authorities fail to take steps to increase wages, the workers will continue their strike and submit a written complaint to the Bokakhat co -district commissioner. He further emphasized that not only wage hikes but also all benefits under the Plantation Labour Act must be provided to the workers.