GUWAHATI, April 1 - With five positive cases of Covid-19 being reported in Assam, the All Adivasi Women�s Association of Assam has opposed the Assam government�s decision to let tea garden authorities run operations in the gardens, putting 15 lakh workers at risk.
�We are particularly concerned about women workers who form over 60 per cent of the workforce and are the most marginalised within this already vulnerable population. We demand that the government take adequate measures to protect them from COVID-19 and the repercussions of the nationwide lockdown,� said a press release issued here today by association president Nelani Tiru.
The association also demanded expansion of benefits under existing schemes like Ujjwala as well as pension and ration, and direct benefit transfers for poor widows, pensioners and disabled workers. Pointing out that workers without ration cards are currently outside the purview of the public distribution system (PDS), it urged the government to ensure they come under the umbrella of benefits offered by the State government, especially schemes like the Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana.
