The entire workforce of tea gardens of Andrew Yule in Assam on Sunday offered voluntary service thanking the management for the help they rendered during lockdown.

A total of 4,210 workers of the company in 10 gardens of the company in Assam today offered shram daan.

Workers at Romai garden under Rossell Tea too offered voluntary service today.

Chandan Bora, head of Tea Business of the group in Calcutta told The Telegraph: “ Over the years we have been able to establish a very congenial working atmosphere across our plantations inculcating a sense of belongingness and security amongst the workers. This feeling, perhaps, was further reinforced by the garden management’s proactive action in ensuring health, hygiene and safety of its employees during Covid-19 pandemic by following the guidelines and standard operating procedures laid down by the state.’’

He added that the management heartily acknowledges this goodwill gesture from its employees who are the backbone and greatest asset of the industry.

“During lockdown and post resumption of work, well-being of the workforce in the estate have been emphasised by way of imparting training through awareness campaigns and providing their dues on time,” Bora added.

Nabin Chandra Keot of Dibrugarh branch of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha said: “Workers have realised that without the gardens reopening, their lives would be in dire straits. A sense of belongingness with the management has now come about and they are now offering voluntary service,’’ he said.

An official of Andrew Yule said the decision was taken at the ACMS/Assam Chah Karmchari Sangha level initially followed by discussion amongst the units with each other and approval of their principals subsequently. “Thereafter their unanimous decision was conveyed to respective garden managements about employees willingness to voluntarily give ‘shram daan’ to which the garden management agreed,” the official said.

“I was not hoping they would come to work but sometime later they started trooping in for work. It was raining in the morning. There is a total change in attitude amongst them” a senior official at Basmatia garden of Andrew Yule in Dibrugarh said.

Following directives during Covid-19 pandemic, strict safety protocols have been put in place in the estates of Andrew Yule ensuring safety of the employees with authorities permitting resumption of operations from April 11 with limited workforce.

Use of masks, maintaining social distancing and routine hand washing have been the highlight besides proactive awareness campaign by the estate managements during lockdown.

Andrew Yule & Company Limited is a 157 years old multidivisional public sector conglomerate under the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprise, government of India. The company exports teas to Iran, Germany, the US, Canada, Georgia, the UK and Ireland.