A Historic Day for Assam: Kaushik Rai on Land Rights to Tea Garden Workers

The tea industry in Assam is more than two centuries old — yet for generations, thousands of workers lived and worked on estate land without ownership or security. Most were brought during the colonial era from famine-hit tribal regions of the Chota Nagpur Plateau and parts of eastern and central India, often through coercion and deceptive recruitment. Their existence remained tied to the tea estates: once employment stopped, so did their right to shelter. Even after 200 years, this reality remained almost unchanged.

However, on November 28 (Friday), during the Winter Session of the 15th Assam Legislative Assembly, a historic shift was set in motion. The House passed the “Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holding (Amendment) Bill, 2025”, clearing the way for granting land pattas to workers living in tea labour lines, opening a path towards secure housing for thousands of families. The Land Ceiling Act Amendment removes “labour lines” from the ancillary land definition, allowing surplus tea estate land to be resumed and settled exclusively with tea garden workers (max 1 bigha per family).

Presented in the house by Minister Keshab Mahanta, the Bill sparked an intense but largely supportive debate. The Opposition endorsed the intent while urging amendments — including reducing the land ceiling and expanding the definition to cover all categories of tea dwellers. Legislators also pushed for clarity on the rights of permanent, temporary and non-working residents, equitable land distribution and better living conditions.

The Assembly briefly witnessed uproar when AIUDF demanded that similar land rights be extended to char areas, drawing sharp protests from the Treasury benches. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma termed the move “a correction of historical injustice” and announced a tea worker–specific housing scheme to be rolled out within two months.

“They might have been living here for over 5 or 6 generations, and maybe more. But they never had the right over the land”

— Kaushik Rai, Minister, Assam

Speaking to Barak Bulletin after the Bill’s passage, Lakhipur MLA and Minister of Barak Valley Development, Kaushik Rai, described the day as monumental. “This is a historic decision under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. November 28, 2025, will be remembered as a red-letter day — not only for tea garden communities but for all of Assam,” he said.

Rai, who is also the Minister of Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs, Mines and Minerals Department, highlighted that tea workers who migrated generations ago had lived without land rights for centuries. “They might have been living here for over 5 or 6 generations, and maybe more. But they never had the right over the land. Wages were also very low before; they never had the capacity to purchase land. If they stopped working, they had to vacate their homes. After 200 years, this Bill finally gives them ownership through land pattas,” he stated.

He further noted that the government has implemented several measures for the welfare of tea workers — including Tea Garden Model Schools, job reservations, wage hikes, Jagannath Community Halls, and financial support schemes such as the Eti Koli Duti Paat initiative, which provides Rs. 5,000 in one-time assistance to over 6.5 lakh workers. He added that a housing assistance scheme is now in the planning stage.

Addressing wage disparity between the Barak and Brahmaputra valleys, Rai acknowledged the existing difference — Rs. 250 in the Brahmaputra Valley and Rs. 228 in the Barak. “The gap was created during the Congress era. Our government has raised wages by Rs. 115 in three phases, and each increment has been uniform across both valleys. We are working to equalise wages and even push them beyond Rs. 250,” he assured.

The passage of the Bill marks one of the most significant policy developments for Assam’s tea labour community in recent memory — a step many believe brings long-denied dignity, security and justice to the people who built the state’s largest industry with their labour and lives. On Friday, after the Bill was passed as ‘ayes’ outnumbered ‘noes’ in the Assembly, tea garden communities across Assam erupted in celebration, performing Jhumur — their traditional dance — in a moment filled with joy and pride.