Guwahati, Oct. 1: Dispur today set in motion an exclusive programme to improve the quality of life in the tea community-dominated areas of the state by 2012.

For starters, the government has shortlisted the five Upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Jorhat in the first phase to improve basic amenities such as drinking water and sanitation in tea and former tea tribe-inhabited areas, a longstanding demand of the Assam Tea Tribes Students Association.

The government has also earmarked Rs 12 crore to implement the first phase a first-of-its-kind co-ordinated initiative between all stakeholders to provide succour to the tea community from health, hygiene, sanitation and drinking water problems.

Disclosing this here today, tea tribes welfare minister Prithibi Majhi said a workshop, organised by the directorate of welfare of tea and ex-tea garden tribes in collaboration with Unicef, discussed the finalisation of Vision Document 2012 that would contain a roadmap to improve basic facilities.

Sources said those who attended the workshop yesterday said Majhi had announced that he would set up a high-level committee to prepare the 2012 Vision Document comprising all stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of the programme in tea gardens and tea community.

The document would be ready by December, they added.