DIBRUGARH, Sept 15 - The newly-formed convener committee of the Tea Tribes Adivasi Autonomous Council Demand Committee today asked the Sarbananda Sonowal-led State government to consider the creation of an autonomous council for the tea garden communities before the ensuing Assembly polls.
In the first sitting of the convener committee held at the head office of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) here today, the meeting resolved to mount pressure on the government for the creation of an autonomous council for the plantation communities.
The committee reminded the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of its last poll promise to ensure Rs 351 daily wage for garden workers.
Slamming the recent recommendation of Rs 27 hike in the wage of garden workers by the one-man committee, the convener committee asked the government to recall its last election promises.
The committee also raised the issue of job reservation for the plantation communities in all government establishments. They have demanded a 30 per cent reservation for youths belonging to tea garden communities in both Central and State government establishments.
Israel Nanda, one of the conveners, while stressing on the need for self-governance, said the State government must announce autonomous council for the Adivasi community also or face protest.
�The Adivasi community, whose population has been estimated to be about one crore in the State, has become one with the greater Assamese society and contributed immensely towards the development of the State. The government must stop using the community as a vote bank,� he said.
Boldev Teli, president, Adivasi Suraksha Committee, said the creation of an autonomous council for only three communities is a ploy of the government to create division among the six communities who have been collectively demanding scheduled tribe (ST) status.
�When the six separate communities have been collectively demanding ST status, how the government can neglect three other communities? It is clear that the government is making deliberate attempts to destroy the unity among the six communities,� he said.
The Tea Tribes Adivasi Autonomous Council Demand Committee comprises members from the Santhal Unnayon Committee, the Assam Tea Labour Union, the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha, the Adivasi Suraksha Committee and a few other organisations.
