DIBRUGARH, Feb 25 - The Assam government has come under severe criticism from the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) and other organisations from the plantations for failing to rehabilitate the victims of the infamous hooch tragedy that claimed some 118 lives of plantation workers in Golaghat and Jorhat districts from February 21 to 26, 2019.
ACMS general secretary Rupesh Goalla said that although government extended some compensation to the next of kin of those who died in the tragedy, several who became disabled and orphans have not been rehabilitated yet. �Those responsible for the sale of toxic illicit liquor were arrested initially but were released. We believe the Excise department is hand-in-glove with the unscrupulous dealers of illicit liquor, without which, open sale of liquor is not possible in tea garden areas. Even today these anti-social elements are openly selling liquor among the workers,� said Goalla.
The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha has been time and again demanding declaration of �dry zone� in all plantation areas but the government appears to be averse to the demand. In the wake of the mass deaths following the hooch tragedy, ACMS had demanded resignation of the Excise Minister but the ruling government did not even transfer one officer in connection with the hooch tragedy. The indifferent attitude of the government is a matter of serious concern to the plantation workers as a whole, said the ACMS leader.
In the opinion of the trade union, if the government truly seeks to improve the lives of the plantation workers, the government ought to declare the plantation areas �dry zone� and pass prohibitory orders to ban illegal liquor sale, gambling, cock fights etc. �Just doling out some amount in the bank accounts of the tea garden workers and distributing rations free of cost for votes will not improve the development index. The slogan, �Sabka Saath Sabka Vishwas� alone will not improve the conditions of the workers,� said Goalla and demanded result-oriented action by the government.
The ACMS has also announced observing Mod Nibarani Divas (Liquor Detest Day) on March 17 across the State in all tea gardens and a special shradhanjali programme for all the victims of the hooch tragedy.