In a powerful show of unity lakh of Adivasis and tea-garden workers gathered in Assam’s Tinsukia on October 8, turning the Hukan Pukhuri playground into a massive protest site to demand long-overdue rights, Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, land pattas and higher wages.
The protest unfolded even as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was addressing a public event for distributing seed funds to over 14,000 women entrepreneurs. Protesters marched to the venue from different directions, chanting slogans and holding placards that echoed decades of neglect, economic hardship and broken promises.
Placards carried messages demanding official recognition for Adivasi and tea-garden communities, while others highlighted inadequate access to education, employment and social welfare schemes. Many demonstrators drew attention to the struggles of landless families and the pressing need for a wage hike for tea workers.
Acknowledging the protest during his speech, Chief Minister Sarma said, “The protest is correct as their demands are genuine and for the welfare of the community. Even our party leaders will participate — the BJP supports their cause.” He also assured the demonstrators that the government was open to talks and committed to finding long-term, sustainable solutions for the Adivasi community.
“We will ensure every deserving group in Assam gets their due rights and recognition,” Sarma affirmed.
The large-scale rally — one of the biggest demonstrations by Adivasi and tea-garden workers in recent years — underscores growing frustration over the slow progress in welfare reforms and the pending demand for Scheduled Tribe status in Assam. The protest marks a significant moment in the ongoing movement for equality, land ownership, and fair compensation in the state’s tea belt.
