DIBRUGARH, March 24 - Amid fear of plantation workers of being ignored from protective measures during the shutdown call in connection with the coronavirus threat, sources from Assam Branch Indian Tea Association (ABITA) here have informed that respective tea garden managements today announced lockdown in consensus with the government directive and have also decided to ensure total compliance of the government order.
Madhurjya Barooah, secretary, ABITA, Zone I here told The Assam Tribune that during the lockdown period, the communities residing within tea gardens will be asked to stay indoors. �We are going to announce through mike on a daily basis so that people confine themselves to home. We witnessed during the ATTSA-sponsored tea garden bandh that people were moving around in groups, going fishing and some even playing indoor games together. If this continues during the lockdown, the very purpose of lockdown may be defeated. It could also turn out to be counterproductive. Therefore, all conscious organizations from the tea garden must cooperate in ensuring total lockdown,� said Barooah.
On the issue of wage and rations during the lockdown period, Barooah said that nothing has been decided yet. We are only complying with the orders of the government, he said.
