Guwahati, Feb 26 (PTI) The Assam government on Thursday decided to increase the daily wages of tea garden workers by Rs 30, ahead of the assembly elections.
Following this decision, wages in the Brahmaputra valley will rise to Rs 280, and will be Rs 258 in the Barak valley.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet.
“As an interim measure, the cabinet has decided to increase the wages by Rs 30 with effect from April 1,” he said.
The minimum daily wage of tea garden workers was last hiked by Rs 18 in October 2023.
The assembly elections in the country’s largest tea-producing state are expected to take place in March-April this year.
The CM said that a tripartite meeting was held earlier during the day between the state government, tea garden labour unions and owners on the issue of increasing the wages.
“As new Labour Codes were implemented by the central government, wages will have to be hiked as per them. We will probably have to sit again in the next six months,” he added.
He said the final daily wages for the tea garden workers are likely to cross Rs 300.
The cabinet also decided to cut the Value Added Tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) by 5 per cent.
“With this decision, the price of ATF will be the same in Kolkata and Guwahati. The reduction in VAT will enhance Assam’s competitiveness in the aviation sector, promote greater flight operations and boost the tourism industry,” Sarma said.
The increased air connectivity is anticipated to generate positive multiplier effects across hospitality, trade, transport and allied service sectors, he added.
The cabinet also decided to release Rs 9,000 as a single instalment for the flagship poverty alleviation scheme ‘Orunodoi’ on March 10.
“On that day, we will credit the amount to 39.7 lakh beneficiaries. This will result in an outgo of Rs 3,600 crore in a single day,” Sarma said.
Besides, the state cabinet has approved the grant of customised incentives to Bharat A to Z Pvt Ltd for setting up an integrated shipyard and container shipping line at Dharapur in Guwahati at an investment of Rs 475 crore.
“The project is expected to generate direct employment for about 900 persons, along with substantial indirect employment in allied services,” Sarma said.
The state cabinet has also approved the grant of customised incentives and facilitative support to Hotel Polo Towers Ltd for setting up a 100-room five-star hotel at Silchar with a total investment of Rs 103.92 crore.
“The project is expected to generate direct employment for about 200 persons, along with substantial indirect employment in allied services such as transport, housekeeping, food supply chains and retail activities,” he added.
The CM further said that the cabinet has approved raising a Rs 519 crore loan from NABARD for 241 projects sanctioned under RIDF-XXXI for Public Works (Roads) and Border Protection & Development departments.
“This will benefit primarily the Sixth Schedule districts and inter-state border areas,” he added. PTI TR TR SOM
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.