GUWAHATI, Nov 13 - A major law and order situation apprehended by the tea industry in the State�s tea estates (TEs), concerning the payment of the weekly and fortnightly cash wages of tea workers, could be averted today with the help of a special arrangement made by the State Government.
The tea industry was unable to withdraw the required money for payment of cash wages of the workers following the November 8, 2016 gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs).
It needs mention here that each of the around 780 tea estates of the State requires around Rs 10 lakh or more, to pay the weekly or fortnightly cash wages of the workers, at the rate of Rs 126 per worker per day.
To help the tea industry overcome this situation, the State Government came forward and in the tea growing districts, the respective deputy commissioners (DCs) were asked to open special bank accounts to which tea estates were to transfer their required amounts of money for workers� wages and the DCs then withdrew the money in cash and paid back the TEs their respective amounts.
Tea Board of India vice chairman and advisor to the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA), Bidyananda Barkakoty has offered thanks to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for his timely intervention in mitigating the crisis.
