DIBRUGARH, Nov 28 � The district unit of All Adivasi Students� Association of Assam (AASAA) took out a bike rally today from Moranhat town to Naharkatia, covering as many as 20 tea estates enroute as part of its ongoing demonstrations across the State for hike in the wages of the tea garden workers from Rs 94 to Rs 330.
The demonstration by the district unit was strengthened by members from its regional committees like Moran, Tingkhong, Naharkatia, Chabua and Lahoal. Altogether, 80 AASAA activists led by Deben Oraon, the central publicity secretary of AASAA started off from Moranhat Inspection Bungalow at around 10 am.
AASAA reiterated that it would continue to stage demonstrations till the tea garden workers of the numerous tea estates were given just wages.
Our correspondents add � In Biswanath Chariali: In the meantime, the Sonitpur district branch of ATTSA staged a three-hour dharna in front of the office of the Assistant Labour Commissioner at Tezpur today in support of the student body�s five-point charter of demands.
Their demands include distribution of patta among the people of the tea community who have been living in Assam for the last 150 years, employment to the educated unemployed youths of the community, increase in the daily wage of the labourers to Rs 300 per day, declaration of Sunday as paid holidays and to stop the practise of child labour in the brick kilns in Sonitpur district.
The ATTSA�s central executive leader Mohan Tanti, district president and secretary, Krishna Kamal Tanti and Dhiraj Tanti respectively, among others, were present in the programme.
In Tinsukia: Demanding Rs 300/- as daily wage along with a demand to consider Sunday as a paid holiday for the tea workers in the State, the Tinsukia district committee of All Assam Tea Tribe Students� Association (AATSA) staged a two-hour dharna in front of the Assistant Labour Commissioner�s office here today.
The students� body also demanded amendment of the present Tea Labour Act. The protesters demanded security for the tea tribe community of the State. They submitted a memorandum in this respect to the State Labour Minister through the Assistant Labour Commissioner.
