Guwahati: The Assam government has announced a 20 per cent Durga Puja bonus for workers employed in tea gardens operated by the state-owned Assam Tea Corporation Limited (ATCL). Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the decision after a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, saying it would bring ATCL gardens in line with the bonus already declared by a majority of tea gardens across the state. Of Assam’s 807 tea gardens, 548 have already announced a 20 per cent bonus for their workers, he said.
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The Chief Minister also urged the management of the remaining tea gardens to provide their workers with a similar 20 per cent bonus ahead of the festive season. In another decision, the Cabinet approved an additional holiday for state government employees during Durga Puja. October 17 will be observed as an extra holiday, extending the Puja break from October 17 to October 20, as one of the festival days falls on a Sunday this year.
The government also approved a special payment for beneficiaries of the Orunodoi scheme. Beneficiaries will receive ₹1,500 in October instead of the regular monthly assistance of ₹1,250, providing an additional ₹250 festive support. The measures were announced ahead of Durga Puja, with the government stating that the decisions are aimed at extending financial and holiday benefits during the festive period.
