Tea Workers Win Historic Land Rights As Assam Passes Landmark Bill, Minister Says ‘Dream Fulfilled After 200 Years’

In a watershed moment for Assam’s tea-garden community, the Assam Assembly on Friday passed the Assam Fixation of Ceiling of Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill, 2025 legislation that will, for the first time

in 200 years, grant land ownership to lakhs of tea estate workers who have lived for generations without legal rights over their homes.The amendment empowers the government to convert labour lines within tea estates into government-owned land, enabling the distribution of ‘land pattas’ to permanent and temporary workers and their descendants. The move is being hailed as a historic correction of what many describe as a “centuries-old injustice” originating during British colonial rule.

Ruckus in Assembly as AIUDF Demands Rights for Char Residents

The session saw fiery protests as AIUDF legislators stormed the Well of the House, demanding that residents of riverine ‘char’ areas primarily Bengali speaking Muslims also be included in the land rights decision. Placards were displayed and heated exchanges erupted with ruling BJP members, forcing the Speaker to intervene. Despite the disruptions, the bill was passed through a voice vote. AIUDF MLAs later staged a walkout, alleging selective justice.Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma countered the accusations, stating that the government had already begun surveys in char areas. “The demand for land rights in char areas will be looked into. Eligible people will receive rights in due course,” he assured.

‘Shackles of Colonial Exploitation Broken’: CM Sarma

Defending the bill, the Chief Minister said that tea workers had lived under a colonial-era system that denied them ownership and identity.“The British enslaved tea workers. Today, those shackles have been broken,” Sarma said, adding that the state was finally honouring the contributions of a community uprooted from their homelands two centuries ago.The government plans to compensate affected estate owners at Rs 3,000 per bigha totalling an estimated Rs 65.57 crore.

‘I Grew Up in Labour Lines This Is Beyond Imagination’: Assam Minister Rupesh Gowala

Sharing his thought on this issue, Minister for Welfare of Tea Tribes and Adivasis, Rupesh Gowala, emotionally welcomed the bill’s passage, calling it “historic justice” and a “dream come true.”“As I myself live in the labour line, this is beyond my imagination. We never thought this dream would come true. But today it is, because of the Chief Minister,” Gowala said.He noted that 4 lakh families across 825 tea estates stand to benefit as the bill converts labour colonies into government land, allowing residents to finally obtain legal land certificates.Gowala also criticised opposition parties for politicising the issue. “This bill should have been unanimously passed. But the Opposition focused on vote-bank politics instead of supporting a community that has waited 200 years for justice.”

Adivasi Student Body Welcomes Move, Raises Caution

Deban Urang, General Secretary of the All Assam Adivasi Students’ Association, hailed the decision as long-overdue recognition.“Tea-garden workers never had true land ownership. Today’s decision finally acknowledges their rights,” he said. However, he urged the government to prevent exploitation. “Once families receive ‘land pattas’, no middlemen should pressure them to sell their land. The process must remain transparent.”

A Turning Point for Assam’s Tea Communities

The passage of the amendment despite political clashes marks a transformative moment for lakhs of workers trapped in generational dependence on tea companies for housing.For the first time, families will have the legal right to build secure homes of their own, enabling the integration of labour lines into mainstream development, welfare schemes, healthcare, and infrastructure.As Minister Gowala put it from today, tea-garden workers will have their own house and their own land. This is a very big thing for Assam.