Jorhat, Nov. 10: Jorhat Lok Sabha MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa has expressed fear that tea garden youths might take up "guns" if the industry continues to neglect the workers.

Tasa was speaking at an interactive meet of all stakeholders of the tea industry today, organised by the Tea Board of India regional office here with support from his office.

"There is vast resentment growing among the youths in the estates and if this kind of situation continues, it will be a dangerous scenario as they (youths) may pick up guns and resort to violence," Tasa said.

He said if the gardens keep on ignoring the situation, the government alone cannot be blamed for the violence as they (gardens) have a social, moral and legal responsibility towards their workers.

Stating that he was speaking his " mann ki baat" with an aim for betterment of the industry as a whole, Tasa said it was high time the garden managements adopt new policies for coping with a host of challenges faced by the industry.

Stating that Assam tea was losing its past glory because of emergence of various new players in the global trade, Tasa said the companies must think of innovative strategies by taking workers as most important partners.

Stating that living conditions of the workers were still pitiable, Tasa said there were violations of the Plantation Labour Act by the industry in providing health and sanitation facilities.

The MP said apart from a few gardens, the living condition of the workers was in a bad shape.

Though government has been undertaking a series of welfare schemes, the estates have not done their bit.

He appealed to the industry to lay stress on quality and productivity and try to regain the top positions in the global market.

He asked the Tea Board to change its style of functioning by not only doling out subsidies to big and small tea growers but also doing away with red tape in its offices.