‘Timely payment of wages a top priority’
Guwahati: Underlining the importance of quick and efficient measures to expedite financial inclusion of tea garden workers as well as to ensure timely disbursal of weekly remuneration to them in a cashless manner, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday directed the bankers operating in the state to facilitate opening of bank accounts of each of the tea garden workers for payment of of weekly wages through bank accounts within a fixed time frame.
In a high level meeting, which was attended by top bank officials and representatives of Tea Associations, Sonowal said that the tea garden workers should not face any inconvenience in availability their wages on time. “Banks must put in place a system which ensures that the tea garden economy and its network of business doesn’t suffer due to non-availability of adequate fund for payment of wages”, Sonowal stressed.
He further said that each of the banks must take steps for opening of bank accounts of the tea garden workers who are still left out as per list prepared in coordination with the tea garden management and start payment of wages through such accounts.
Sonowal took stock of the presence of banking institutions in tea garden areas of the state and directed the bankers to open sufficient number of ATMs so that the account holders can transact money locally in a hassle-free manner.
Reiterating that financial literacy amongst tea garden workers is a need of the hour, Sonowal urged the bankers to expedite such literacy programmes in a more intensive manner. He further stated that ACMS has great inroad into the tea community and it must play a proactive role in educating the garden workers for availing the new mode of financial system.
The chief minister further appreciated the active role played by the banks in tiding over the crisis, especially the issue concerning timely payment of wages of tea garden workers which emerged out of demonetization of Rs. 500 and 1000 currencies.
The bankers lauded State government’s proactive role and novel measures adopted in the state for disbursing wages to tea garden workers in the wake of demonetization.
“The Assam Model has received nationwide attention and all the tea garden intensive states are emulating the same in letter and spirit” commented SBI Chief General Manager PVSNL Murty.
Acknowledging the chief minister’s directions and concerns, the banking authorities have unanimously agreed to complete opening of bank accounts of left-out tea garden workers within December 5, 2016 to ensure payment of wages through such accounts from December 15, 2016 onwards. It was also decided that all banks would open ATMs in tea gardens where there is sizable population.
Banks would also introduce lobby ATMs through Customer Service Providers (CSP) and banking correspondents (BC) and space for such ATMs will be provided by respective tea gardens. Meanwhile to explore possibilities for engaging tea garden management as CSP and BC, consultations will be held between Banks and TE management shortly to settle the matter.