Assam CM Himanta Sarma promises ₹500 daily wages for tea garden workers
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has promised to raise daily wages for tea garden workers to ₹500 in a phased manner — a significant pledge for a community that forms the backbone of Assam's 200-year-old tea industry and a key electoral constituency for the BJP-led NDA government.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pledged a phased increase in daily wages for tea garden workers up to ₹500 .
The government established 118 model high schools in tea garden areas between 2021 and 2026 .
A target of 100 more model high schools in tea garden regions has been set for 2026 to 2031 .
Welfare measures include financial assistance, housing support, scholarships, and healthcare benefits for Cha Shramiks .
The tea tribe community is one of Assam's largest employment-generating groups, central to the state's economy.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday pledged a phased increase in daily wages for tea garden workers up to ₹500, reaffirming that the NDA government would continue to prioritise the welfare of the state's 'Cha Shramik' community in its third term. The announcement was made from Guwahati and comes as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration marks over a decade in power in Assam.
What Sarma Announced
Posting on social media, Chief Minister Sarma said:
Point of View
And the BJP has consistently courted it with welfare pledges. However, the current daily wage for tea garden workers remains well below ₹500, and 'phased increase' without a defined timeline is a formulation that allows the government flexibility without binding accountability. The education push — 118 schools built and 100 more targeted — is a more concrete metric, but socio-economic indicators in tea garden areas, including nutrition and infant mortality, have historically lagged state averages. The real test of NDA 3.0's commitment will be whether wage timelines are codified in policy rather than left as aspirational announcements.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What wage increase has Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma promised for tea garden workers?
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has promised a phased increase in daily wages for tea garden workers up to ₹500 in the coming years. The announcement was made as part of the NDA government's third-term welfare agenda for the Cha Shramik community.
How many model high schools has the Assam government built in tea garden areas?
The Assam government established 118 model high schools in tea garden areas between 2021 and 2026. It has now set a target to build 100 more such schools in a phased manner between 2026 and 2031.
Why are tea garden workers important to Assam?
The tea tribe community constitutes a significant portion of Assam's population and is central to the state's economy through its contribution to the tea industry, one of the largest employment-generating sectors in the state. Assam's tea legacy spans over 200 years.
What other welfare measures has the Assam government announced for tea garden workers?
Beyond the wage hike pledge, the BJP-led NDA government has implemented financial assistance schemes, housing support, scholarships, and healthcare benefits for tea garden communities. Initiatives also focus on skill development and livelihood generation.
When will the ₹500 daily wage for tea garden workers take effect?
Chief Minister Sarma described the increase as phased, without specifying a fixed deadline. The commitment was framed as a priority for the NDA government's third term, but no binding timeline has been officially announced.
