DIBRUGARH, Nov 23 - The State Government today announced that it would observe the Shramik Kalyan Divas (Labour Welfare Day) in consonance with the birth anniversary of educationist and community mobiliser late Santosh Kumar Topno, founder general secretary of the erstwhile Asom Chotanagpuri Chatra Sanmilan (later renamed the Assam Tea Tribes Students� Association), every year.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who attended the first Shramik Kalyan Divas programme centrally organised by the Labour Welfare Department on the Mancotta Tea Estate playground near here, described Santosh Kumar Topno and Simon Singh Horo, founder president of the erstwhile Asom Chotanagpuri Chatra Sanmilan, as iconic leaders who pioneered the labour movement in the State for its all-round development. �These two great personalities will be always remembered and revered for their contributions towards making the greater Assamese society socially, culturally and economically strong. They dedicated their lives to motivating members of the tea garden working community across the State by organising them and making them aware of their rights. As we strive to make Assam one of the most developed and economically strong States, we cannot afford to bypass the contributions of these two great souls,� said Sonowal.
The Chief Minister, who expressed his happiness over the presence of Congress heavyweights, and leaders of the Assam Tea Tribes Students� Association, All Adivasi Students� Association of Assam and Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha on the dais, said that this was a sign of unity.
�Today I am really encouraged by attending this event. I am foreseeing a bright future. I was supposed to take a flight to Guwahati this afternnon, but I cancelled it. I am really impressed by today�s gathering. This is what Santosh Kumar Topno and Simon Singh Horo had envisioned for the community,� he said in reference to the presence of former Union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar, former minister and Assembly Speaker Prithibi Majhi, and former minister and present general secretary of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha, Dileswar Tanti, among the BJP ministers and MLAs.
Ghatowar, in his speech, told the Chief Minister that the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha would cooperate with the Government in the implementation of all constructive schemes and policies. Rameswar Teli, Dibrugarh MP, said that leaders like Paban Singh Ghatowar, Prithibi Majhi, Labour Welfare Minister Pallab Lochan Das, Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Sanjay Kishan, Teres Goala and himself would not have made it to politics if Santosh Kumar Topno and Simon Singh Horo had not started the social movement way back in 1947.
Labour Welfare Minister Pallab Lochan Das said that the tea garden working communities had no social status during the post-British regime, but the leadership of Santosh Kumar Topno and Simon Singh Horo wrested for them a social status in the State, country and the world at large.
Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, former minister Prithibi Majhi, Jorhat MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Lahoal MLA Rituparna Baruah and ATTSA president Rajen Kumar also addressed the gathering. Rahil Topno, widow of Santosh Kumar Topno, shared the dais with the Chief Minister and others.
The Labour Welfare Department also gave away ex gratia to the next of kin of workers who died in accidents and financial aid to some meritorious students from among the tea garden working communities. Achievers from the tea garden working communities in various fields and profession were also felicitated.