Tinsukia, 28th Septemer: Small tea growers in Tinsukia district’s Kardaiguri area are grappling with severe financial distress, as 280 families across 16 villages continue to wait for dues totaling ₹2.14 crore. The crisis, which began in 2019, has plunged the local farming community into economic uncertainty, leaving many families desperate for justice.
The situation stems from the alleged embezzlement by Manas Buragohain, owner of the Reduction Factory in Dhala, who has failed to pay the growers for the raw tea leaves they have been supplying to his factory for nearly five years. Despite multiple efforts by the growers to reclaim their rightful earnings, they remain uncompensated, pushing them to the brink of despair.
Adding to their struggle, local businessman Mohan Sonowal has been accused of selling off the tea without clearing the dues owed to the small-scale farmers. The growers claim Sonowal has leveraged his political connections to evade accountability, even using his alleged ties with Assam’s chief minister to avoid legal repercussions.
As frustration mounts, the affected farmers are calling for immediate intervention and justice. They demand that both Buragohain and Sonowal be held accountable, urging authorities to ensure the long-overdue payments are made, and their livelihoods restored.