Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on May 26 told the state assembly that his government aims to raise daily wages for tea garden workers to Rs 450 during its tenure, and he urged collective action to strengthen Assam’s tea industry and expand its presence in global markets. He made the announcement on the third day of the Assam Assembly session while outlining priorities for the state’s economic transformation.
Sarma said wages for tea workers had already increased significantly under the current government. “For the first time, we have raised the wages of tea garden workers to nearly Rs 300,” he said, adding that the government now carried the responsibility of taking the figure further to Rs 450.
The chief minister warned that reaching the Rs 450 target would require cooperation from all stakeholders and stronger growth across Assam’s tea economy. “Collective efforts will be needed so that Assam’s tea industry can capture the global market,” Sarma said, stressing partnership between government, planters and worker organisations.
Outlining a broader development agenda, Sarma said the next five years would be crucial for Assam’s economic transformation. He called for focused measures to modernise sectors linked to rural livelihoods and employment, including the tea industry, agriculture and cottage industries.
“We will have to modernise and strengthen Assam’s tea sector, agriculture sector, and cottage industries,” he said, indicating the state intends to prioritise productivity gains, wider economic opportunities and sustainable income sources for workers and rural communities.
The chief minister said the government planned to dedicate the coming years to improving productivity and expanding economic opportunities across rural Assam, aiming to create more sustainable incomes for workers and households dependent on tea estates.
Sarma’s remarks come amid ongoing demands from tea garden workers’ unions for higher wages and better welfare measures across the state’s tea estates, which remain one of Assam’s largest sources of employment.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-targets-rs-450-tea-worker-wage-seeks-stronger-global-tea-push-1397683-2026-05-26?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-05-26 11:35:00
