Leader of the Opposition in the ALA Debabrata Saikia has urged Speaker Biswajit Daimary to…
Halt Dolu eviction drive: Debabrata Saikia to Labour Minister Sanjay Kishan
Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia has urged Tea Tribe Welfare and Labour Minister Sanjay Kishan to halt the eviction drive
GUWAHATI: Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia has urged Tea Tribe Welfare and Labour Minister Sanjay Kishan to halt the eviction drive in the Dolu Tea Estate till the Government ensures rehabilitation of the labourers, their healthcare and the education of their children.
In a letter to the minister on Saturday, Saikia said, “The State Government must ensure rehabilitation of the tea labourers and their healthcare facilities, besides education.”
Saikia further said, “The Government acquired 2,600 bighas of the 9,956 bighas of Dolu Tea Estate land for a Greenfield Airport in the Cachar district. The Government will uproot around 30 lakh tea bushes that let the tea labourers meet both ends meet.
“Instead of forceful evictions in any area, the Government should hold talks with the affected people and reach an understanding on their financial and social problems, besides rehabilitation, healthcare and education. We did file a PIL in the Gauhati High Court against such eviction drives. The State Government should make its stand on eviction clear.
“Anyone doing tea business should ensure the jobs, quarters, healthcare and education of tea labourers and their family members. A section of labourers of Dolu Tea Estate will not get such facilities after their eviction.
“The labourers of Dolu Tea Estate have been staging protests since the Chief Minister announced the acquisition of land from Dolu Tea Estate for a Greenfield Airport in the Cachar district. Various parties and organizations have also been protesting aigainst the move. Instead of drawing any rehabilitation plan, the Government has washed its hand just by releasing a portion of the arrears amount of the labourers. The Labour Department is looking the other way on this issue. The department should have raised its voice in the interest of the labourers.
“As the Labour Minister, you need to bring the entire picture before the Chief Minister and halt to eviction drive, besides removing the armed police personnel from the site.”
News Source: https://www.sentinelassam.com/guwahati-city/halt-dolu-eviction-drive-debabrata-saikia-to-labour-minister-sanjay-kishan-592083