India, Jan. 25 -- As Assam moves closer to the next Assembly elections, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced a major welfare initiative aimed at tea garden workers, a politically influential voter group in the state.

The Chief Minister launched the Eti Koli Duti Paat scheme at Samdang in the Doomdooma constituency, providing a one-time cash assistance of Rs 5,000 to over six lakh tea garden workers and employees across Assam.

With a total outlay of Rs 302 crore, the scheme targets workers from tea tribe and Adivasi communities, whose electoral significance is concentrated in Upper Assam districts such as Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, and Golaghat. Tea garden belts have historically played a decisive role in Assembly ...