Hike in Assam tea garden workers' daily wage by Rs 30 from Apr 1
Guwahati (PTI): The Assam government has announced increasing the daily wage of tea garden workers by Rs 30 from next month, an official notification said.
The hike will be applicable for workers in estate gardens as well as in small tea gardens in the state, which is the country's largest tea-producing state.
"Consequent upon the recommendation of Minimum Wages Advisory Board for tea plantation workers of Assam in its meeting on 26.2.2026, Governor of Assam is pleased to allow an interim increase of Rs 30 in the interim minimum wages of the tea plantation workers with effect from 1.4.2026," the notification issued on March 7 said.
Accordingly, tea workers in Brahmaputra valley will receive Rs 280 per day against the existing Rs 250, while those in Barak valley will be paid Rs 258 daily against the current Rs 228 from April one.
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The increase in the interim wages will also be applicable for workers engaged in small tea gardens both in Brahmaputra and Barak valley, the notification added.
The minimum daily wage of tea garden workers was last hiked in the state by Rs 18 in October 2023.
The state Cabinet had approved the hike in the daily wages by Rs 30 on February 26, following a tripartite meeting held earlier that day between the state government, tea garden labour unions and owners on the issue of increasing the wages.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said after the Cabinet meeting that as new Labour Codes were being implemented by the Centre, wages will have to be hiked again and the stakeholders will "probably have to sit again in the next six months".
The final daily wages for the tea garden workers are likely to cross Rs 300 after that, he had added.
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Karnataka govt takes steps to prevent drinking water shortage in rural areas during summer
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Bengaluru (PTI): The state government has initiated proactive measures to ensure that rural communities do not face drinking water shortages during the upcoming summer season, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said on Tuesday.
The district administrations have been instructed to closely monitor the situation and take immediate measures, including hiring private borewells on a rental basis and supplying water through tankers wherever required.
To strengthen water availability, dried borewells will be restored through flushing and deepening, while new borewells will be drilled in unavoidable cases based on technical recommendations from geologists, said Kharge, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, and Information Technology & Biotechnology.
"Along with restoring dried borewells, we have directed Gram Panchayats to conduct water quality testing and ensure proper cleaning of overhead tanks so that safe drinking water is available to rural communities," he added.
An official statement issued by the minister's office said that as several parts of the state experience dry conditions during summer, many existing rural water sources tend to run dry, leading to potential shortages.
To address this, the government has put in place daily monitoring mechanisms and directed officials to take immediate action wherever shortages arise, it said.
To ensure the supply of safe drinking water, Gram Panchayats have been instructed to collect samples from all drinking water sources, conduct water quality testing from at least three tap connections in each village and ensure the cleaning of all overhead tanks as per prescribed guidelines, it added.
According to official data, drinking water shortages have already been reported in 183 villages across 144 taluks in 21 districts of the state.
"Currently, 183 villages are facing drinking water shortages. Of these, 31 villages are being supplied water through 96 tankers, while 152 villages are receiving water through 154 rented private borewells. District administrations have been directed to address the situation on priority," the minister said.
According to him, during March 2026, approximately 1,053 borewells are expected to be repaired through flushing and deepening. In emergency situations, new borewells will also be drilled wherever necessary.
To ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply during the summer of 2026, funds for emergency works will be mobilised from the Central and State Drought Relief Funds as well as the department's Task Force funds, he said.
The minister also directed Gram Panchayats, Taluk Panchayats, and district administrations to work in close coordination to effectively manage and maintain drinking water supply across rural areas.
