Lepetkata tea workers protest for wage hike, land rights

Hundreds of tea workers from the Lepetkata tea estate protested in Dibrugarh on Tuesday. They were led by the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) and demanded better wages and land rights. The workers, carrying signs and chanting slogans, called for their minimum daily wage to be raised from Rs 250 to Rs 500. They cited rising living costs as a key reason for their demand. They also asked for an increase in the monthly housing allowance for non-resident workers from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000. ACMS leader Bikash Tanti emphasized that the current wage is not sufficient for workers to support their families. He pointed out that many tea workers are struggling due to inflation and high prices of essential goods. Another protester, Sunita Orang, highlighted the need for better housing rent allowances, stating that rents have increased while their allowances have remained unchanged for years. The workers are also pressing for land ownership rights. Many have lived on tea estate land for generations without legal deeds to prove their ownership. Union leader Raju Gowala stated that the government must provide them with land deeds.