2 in 3 Indians can't stop using phones: Survey
New Delhi, July 6 : Digital devices have now become such a big part of so many people in India that two-thirds of users in the country find it difficult to stay away from their mobile phones even for a day, shows a new survey.
The global average of users unwilling to separate from their mobile phones stands at 48 per cent, according to the report titled "The State of Digital Lifestyles - 2018" from Limelight Networks, a global digital content delivery platform.
Indian consumers ranked second, after Malaysia, for being the most addicted to their digital devices, showed the findings based on a survey of consumers in 10 countries.
Laptop and desktop computers were the second most integral digital technology for Indian users, with 45 per cent of respondents reporting that they could not go without them for even a day, which is highest in the survey and 12 per cent more than the global average of 33 percent, Limelight Networks said in a statement.
More than 90 per cent of Indian respondents said digital technology had positively impacted their lives. India users also showed the highest level of engagement across all types of online digital content among all the countries surveyed.
More than 75 per cent Indian respondents said they downloaded or streamed music at least once a week, the highest rate among the surveyed countries.
Indian respondents also displayed higher inclination to downloading movies and watching them offline, which is 12 per cent higher than the global average, the report said.
"India has made remarkable progress in terms of digital adoption. One of the key takeaways from the survey has been that the Indian users are clearly more willing to adopt digital products and services and make it a part of their day-to-day lives," said Gaurav Malik, Country Head, India at Limelight Networks.
"This is a positive sign for all stakeholders, including market players, consumers and the government as it leads to a win-win proposition for everyone and will boost the productivity of the nation as the digital adoption increases," Malik added.
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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.
