Jorhat, Sept. 28: The Assam Tea Tribes Students' Association (ATTSA) - a leading students' body of the tea workers' community - wants to do away with the tradition of screening films at night during Durga Puja in gardens to prevent drinking and gambling.

Screening of films, mostly Bollywood ones, during Puja in open air (in community halls in recent times) throughout the night has been a tradition since the British rule. It was organised to provide amusement to garden workers as there are no other means of entertainment in the estates that are located in remote areas.

ATTSA president Rajen Kumar told this correspondent from Dibrugarh today that though the practice of screening films during Puja holidays has been a major source of entertainment for the workers and their families, it also has many drawbacks that adversely affect# the community.

He said anti-social activities like sale of illicit liquor and gambling are organised by unscrupulous elements during Puja in nearby areas of gardens and often leads to untoward incidents like clashes among the workers, which at times had led to major law-and-order situations.

The student leader said there was a negative impact on the health of the workers as they lose sleep, get drunk and blow the entire amount received as Puja bonus.

Kumar said the organisation wanted to stop this age-old tradition that harms the community in many ways and instead has proposed that cultural evenings be organised during the Puja holidays by bringing in local artistes and end the functions by 9-10pm.

"The money spent by the workers to watch films could be used to organise functions, which will also contribute to promoting and preserving local culture," Kumar said.

The ATTSA president said their central committee has directed all the 46 branch committees of the students' association in the tea belt districts to submit memoranda to districts and sub-divisional administrations to not grant "no-objection certificates" to gardens seeking permission to screen films during the Pujas.

Kumar said the branches have also been asked to urge the administration and police to carry out drives against sale of illicit liquor and gambling in areas near tea gardens.

ATTSA general secretary Paban Bedia said the association's garden units have been told to hold meetings with workers' unions and seek support from garden authorities on the issue. "We hope this initiative will gain momentum gradually as bringing a change to a tradition generally takes time, but we will continue our initiative," Bedia said.

On the other hand, the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) has asked its branches across the state to carry out awareness campaigns among the workers to save a part of their bonus instead of spending the entire amount on Puja revelry. Women constitute over 50 per cent of the total number of tea estate workers in Assam.

Bonus settled

Puja bonus for almost all the tea gardens under Hailakandi district has been settled amicably following discussions by the district administration with the tea estate managements.

A communiqué issued by the state government said of the 19 tea gardens in the district, the issue has been settled in 18, barring Katlicherra.

Manipur tea estate has paid 15 per cent bonus, Dholai, Roopacherra, Vernerpur, Lallacherra, Lallamookh, Narsingpore, Sultanicherra, Bundookmara, Chandypore, South Cachar, Aenakhal have paid 20 per cent, Kunchonpore 18.5, Koyah 19.5, Monacherra 10, Serispore 19, Burnie Braes 15 and Ramchandy 13 per cent.