An organisation representing Assam’s tea garden workers met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and highlighted the long-standing social, economic and identity-related problems faced by tribal communities working in the state’s tea estates.
The delegation from Adivasi Samanvaya Samiti Bharat (Assam) said that years of neglect by the Assam government have pushed these communities into deeper marginalisation across various sectors, according to a statement issued by the Jharkhand Chief Minister’s Office.
The CMO stated that Soren listened to the delegation’s concerns carefully and expressed strong support. He reiterated that Jharkhand remains committed to protecting Adivasi culture, traditions and rights, no matter where they live. Soren also assured that his government would follow up on the issues affecting Assam’s tea tribe population.
Soren later announced that a team from Jharkhand will soon visit Assam to review the situation of tribal families living in tea gardens. These workers are descendants of Adivasi labourers who were taken from areas that fall under present-day Jharkhand during the British period.
In a post on X, the chief minister added that Jharkhand will work towards ensuring fair wage hikes for these communities and take steps to address land-related issues affecting their socio-economic security. He had earlier written to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in September 2024, urging the state to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the tea tribe community—an old demand that is still pending.