STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia wrote to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to declare Karam Puja a government holiday.
On September 15, the Labour Welfare Department issued a notification and declared that September 25 was a paid holiday on account of Karam Puja in tea plantations, including tea factories. The notification also said that in lieu of the holiday, the garden workers will work on any other garden holidays or weekly day of rest, which is to be decided by the respective garden management.
In regards to this, Debabrata Saikia wrote a letter to the Chief Minister. The letter said, "Since the last few days, the tea workers have demanded to declare a holiday on the occasion of Karam Puja. The Karam Puja is an important socio-religious festival for the tea communities of Assam. I support the demands of the tea communities and urged to declare it a government holiday for the tea plantations or former tea community employees. Though the government declared Karam Puja a holiday, but they have to work on Sunday or other holidays. This decision is anti-labour and an injustice to the tea communities."
The letter further stated, "I hope the government should declare the festival a public holiday and give all government orders to the garden management."
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