Tea gardens in Assam's Jorhat showing interest to engage returnees Official

    Guwahati, Jun 2 (PTI) Most tea garden owners in Jorhat
district of Assam have shown interest in engaging migrant
workers who have returned to the state in the wake of the
lockdown, following talks with the local authorities which are
looking for avenues to provide employment opportunities to
these people, an official said on Tuesday.
    The district administration is aiming at providing
jobs to around 1,000 returnees in the first phase, Jorhat
Deputy Commissioner Roshni Aparanji Korati said.
    "Of the 86 tea gardens in the district, several
owners are showing interest to accommodate the migrant
labourers. Apart from plucking leaves, there are many jobs in
a tea estate.
    "Most of these are done by non-permanent workers. We
are looking to engage the returnees in such activities," she
told PTI.
    The administration is negotiating with the tea garden
managements, and it is estimated that there is a requirement
of around 1,000 skilled people for jobs like plumbing,
fitting, maintaining electrical equipment among others in the
gardens.
    "We will contact those who are qualified for these
jobs and take the necessary steps to connect with the tea
garden managements. The returnees will be provided training
for skilled jobs and will also get a stipend," Korati said.
    A scheme- 'SwaNiyojan'- has been launched by the
Jorhat district administration to provide opportunities for
the migrant people, who lost their jobs due to the lockdown
and came back to Assam.
    Asked how the authorities are contacting the migrant
labourers as per their skills, she said a database is being
created based on their expertise and qualifications.
    "Forms with a standard format have been distributed
among these workers in quarantine centres to collect their
biodata," Korati said.
    Besides tea gardens, the authorities are also looking
to engage the returnees with various works under different
departments such as panchayat and rural development,
agriculture, veterinary and industries by providing right
counselling and support.
    She also said that the district authority has rolled
out a unique project 'Ghare Ghare Lao Jika Bhol' in urban
areas to encourage people to grow their kitchen gardens.
    As part of the project, around 10,000 households in
four municipal areas of the district are being provided with a
packet containing seeds of eight different vegetables.
    She said the project is implemented with the help of
respective municipal boards and various civil society groups.
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)