Despitegovernment's tall claims of making a cashless nation and setting up of ATMs inevery nook and corner including the tea gardens, several Tea gardens,especially in Upper Assam, are yet to get any ATM machines to enable thelabourers to take out money.

Recently, the Assam government revealed in the assembly that a total of 493 ATMs were installed in 841 registered Tea Estates in Assam.

In an exclusive Pratidin Time investigation, no ATMs were found in 40 tea gardens of Doomdooma area. "There is not a single ATM installed in Doomdooma area," said locals. Similarly, not ATMs were found in Tingkhong, Naharkatia, and other areas. "There is only one ATM among 70 tea estates of Charaideo district," said a tea garden worker.