From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI: “Health, education, drinking water and sanitation can bring about qualitative changes in the tea garden areas. Towards this end our energies need to be channelized,” said Minister of State (independent charge) in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Paban Singh Ghatowar at a function organised by the State Education Department to distribute appointment letters to schoolteachers of tea tribe community at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra here.
Ghatowar said that solving the problems of health, education, drinking water and sanitation would go a long way in improving the condition of the workers which would, in turn, lead to better productivity. Ghatowar praised the efforts of the Government of Assam to address to the problems of the tea workers and working for their welfare.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said his Government has given thrust on health, education, drinking water and sanitation through a slew of schemes. He pointed out that more stress has been given on skill development which could open up avenues of employment opportunities.
Gogoi urged the tea companies to work more for the welfare of the garden employees. “Some companies are not doing enough for their employees. The companies are making profits from the gardens and they should look after the welfare of the garden employees,” he said.
Gogoi called upon the tea companies to make use of the land not under tea cultivation to generate more employment. “Employment can be generated if the companies make use of their excess land not under tea cultivation, to diversify into other business ventures.”
He suggested the tea companies to go in for mechanisation to increase productivity and also to enhance quality.
Gogoi gave away appointment letters to 60 school teachers of tea garden areas in the function. One hundred and fifty vocational part-time teachers in Higher Secondary Schools were also given appointment letters.
Ghatowar, a veteran Congress leader from Assam who was inducted into the central council of ministers last year, is a tea garden leader from the northeast.
