Ration, wage row in gardens

TT, Siliguri, May 27: Tea trade unions today threatened to launch a movement across north Bengal alleging inaction by the state and the Tea Board over irregularities in gardens owned by the Duncans-Goenka Group and delay in implementing minimum wages.

The decision was taken at a meeting attended by all 24 constituent unions of the Joint Forum here today.

"It is unfortunate that both the state and the Tea Board are sitting idle and playing an insensitive role when it comes to helping workers of the 16 tea estates owned by Duncans-Goenka Group. There is hardly any other company that owns so many gardens in north Bengal. For the past three-four months, there have been irregularities in payment of wage and dues and disbursement of ration in the gardens. Even deaths from malnutrition and poverty have been reported and yet," said Ziaur Alam, the Jalpaiguri district Citu secretary and convenor of the Joint Forum.

"We will try to get an appointment with the Tea Board chairman and seek his intervention to end the plight of thousands of workers," he added.

Chitta Dey of the Joint Forum said: "The committee to recommend minimum wage was formed on February 20 and only one meeting was held (at Uttarkanya) on March 17. Workers on all estates of the Terai, Dooars and Darjeeling will hold one hour-long demonstrations in each garden on June 11, 12 and 13. The government should understand that demonstrations are just the beginning of our agitation. If the state continues to sit back, workers will hit the streets."

Alam said the state had not taken any step although the workers' quarters were tottering in most gardens, drinking water supply was irregular and there was lack of basic medical facilities.

Md Rizwan, the joint labour commissioner of Siliguri, said: "A meeting was held with Duncans-Goenka Group. They had assured us that wages of March would be paid in two instalments on May 13 and 19. They have paid one instalment on May 13 in all 16 gardens but on May 19, they paid the instalment only on seven estates. We are insisting that they make the payment at the earliest."