GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday interacted with over 3500 gaonburhas (village headmen) and sardars (tea workers’ community leader) of tea gardens through audio conference nd sought their pro-active cooperation in raising awareness among the people about the importance of maintaining social distancing norms in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
Sonowal also asked them to extend support and keep watch on smooth distribution of essential commodities supplied by the State government among the poor and needy people.
While interacting with the gaonburhas, the Chief Minister informed that the State government had relaxed lockdown restriction for taking up farm activities as per guideline of the Central government provided the farmers strictly adhere to social distancing.
He appealed to gaonburhas to ensure maintaining all health advisories and lockdown guideline by the farmers along with other villagers of their respective areas. He also called for their active role in ensuring seamless distribution of essential goods and other government assistance among all poor villagers.
The Chief Minister while talking to sardars of the tea gardens reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to ensure well-being of all tea garden workers. He said that the State government allowed plucking of tea leaves engaging 50% workers as per direction of the Central government. However, the garden workers would have to maintain social distancing and the sardars must observe that government directives in this regard are adhered to.
He requested sardars to ensure use of mask by tea workers at their work place and availability of adequate water and soap for regular handwashing in coordination with tea garden management and local administration. Sardars were asked to keep a tab on adequate distribution of government assistance and other facilities among the tea workers