Guwahati, March 14: Today marked a historic day for tea workers in Assam as Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched a land patta distribution program during a special ceremony in Guwahati. The tea workers hailed this initiative by the central government as a significant milestone.
This initiative will benefit approximately 350,000 tea garden families across the state, who have lived in ‘labor lines’ since the British era without permanent land rights. PM Modi handed the first patta to a qualified tea worker, after which the statewide distribution commenced.
During the event, PM Modi stated that this step is akin to ‘repaying a debt’ to the tea garden community, which has been the backbone of Assam’s economy for over 200 years. Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma explained that this initiative aims to improve the socio-economic status of tea workers, provide housing security, and ensure a dignified life. In the first phase, thousands of families received pattas, with plans for gradual expansion to all tea gardens.
Mohon Lal, a tea worker from Dibrugarh, expressed his joy, saying, “Our history is very old. We have been waiting for this decision since the British era. The Modi government has honored us by granting land rights. Now we can build our homes and secure our future. We are very grateful to PM Modi and Chief Minister Sarma.”
Another worker remarked, “By granting land rights, the Modi government has taken a significant step for tea gardens. Our generations have lived without ownership; now our children will be secure.”
A female worker also shared, “The government has listened to our voices. Receiving the patta has given us confidence. We express our gratitude to PM Modi and Himanta Sarma.”
The tea garden community, primarily composed of tribal and tea tribes, has described this initiative as ‘historic.’ Many workers noted that such measures were never taken during previous Congress governments, but the Modi administration has fulfilled its promises. With the land rights, they can now build homes, access loans, and benefit more from government schemes.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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