Protests Erupt in Assam Demanding Rights for Tea Tribes Community
Protests by Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association
ATTSA protest in Sadiya on Thursday
Guwahati, Nov 12: On Thursday, the Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA) organized sit-in protests lasting three hours across various locations in Assam, advocating for the swift resolution of longstanding issues affecting the tea tribes community.
Numerous demonstrators gathered in multiple districts, chanting slogans like “We want land pattas” and “ATTSA Zindabad”, while displaying placards with messages such as “Amar dabi mani louk” (Fulfil our demands).
In Biswanath, the group protested outside the Biswanath Revenue Circle Office, coinciding with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s upcoming visit to the district on November 13.
The protesters articulated three primary demands: land pattas for tea garden workers, Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the tea community, and an increase in daily wages.
They claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured them that these longstanding issues would be addressed during his previous visit to Assam, and that Chief Minister Sarma had made similar commitments.
Despite these assurances, the protesters expressed disappointment over the lack of action.
“Before the elections, the BJP government promised land pattas to tea workers. We placed our trust in them, but our demands remain unmet even after all this time. The recognition and dignity that the indigenous community deserves have not been granted,” stated one protester.
Leaders from ATTSA cautioned that they would escalate their protests if their demands were not met promptly.
“We believed in the promises made by the government and the Chief Minister. It is unacceptable to treat us merely as a vote bank. Our rightful claims must be honored, or we will escalate our protests,” another protester warned.
In Sadiya, the Talap branch of ATTSA held a similar demonstration outside the Sadiya Sub-Divisional Commissioner’s office.
Ramen Das, a central executive member of ATTSA in Sadiya, remarked that the community has been waiting for years for the government to fulfill its promises regarding wages, land rights, and ST status.
“The Prime Minister of this double-engine government visited Assam and claimed, ‘Achhe din aane waale hain’. They spoke of increasing wages, providing land pattas, and granting ST status. However, years have gone by, and these promises remain unfulfilled. We urge the government to address our demands soon, or we will be forced to extend our protests beyond Assam, to Dispur and Delhi,” Das added.
The recent protests are part of ATTSA's renewed efforts to compel the state government to address the community's longstanding constitutional, economic, and social demands.
Earlier in February, the Dibrugarh unit of ATTSA had also staged a demonstration and submitted a memorandum to the state government, urging the immediate fulfillment of these demands.
As the 2026 Assembly elections approach, the organization has reiterated its call for ST status, land rights, and fair wages for tea garden workers.
Similar protests were reported in Rangapara, Doomdooma, and other tea garden regions on Thursday.
This latest wave of protests follows a previous demonstration organized by ATTSA across various parts of Assam on November 7, where they again demanded land pattas, higher daily wages, and ST status for the tea community.