GUWAHATI, July 10 � The All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) appealed to the Governor of Assam to do the needful for the socio-political and economic development of the Adivasi people living in Assam since ages.
The student body submitted a memorandum to the Governor today demanding his intervention so that the grievances of the Adivasi community are addressed at the earliest.
It needs to be mentioned here that the association since long has been insisting on increasing the daily wages of the tea garden workers to Rs 200.
�The tea garden workers are still working under a British colonial system where there is suppression and exploitation. The daily wage of a tea worker is Rs 84 only,� said the association mentioning that the condition of the tea workers was pitiable as the cost of living has been rising every year.
Demanding provincialisation of all existing LP schools in tea garden areas, the association said that children of tea garden workers have been deprived of quality education. The association has also insisted on making higher education accessible to the children of tea garden workers.
�An educational environment has to be created in the tea garden areas. The government should set up colleges and other higher educational institutions in the tea garden areas and allocation of adequate funds for scholarship to students wanting to pursue higher studies and professional courses,� said the Association calling for a special financial package like grant and subsidy for the educated unemployed Adivasis.
The association has also demanded 3 percent quota for Adivasi students in all higher educational institutions.
�If the genuine demands of the Adivasis are not fulfilled at the earliest, we will launch a mass agitational movement across the State,� warned the association.
