Closed Ramjhora tea garden in Alipurduar set to reopen today

SNS, SILIGURI, 27 JANUARY 2022: Ramjhora Tea Estate in Alipurduar district, which was closed in 15 January this year after the management issued suspension of work notice following alleged indiscipline among the workforce, is scheduled to reopen tomorrow, Additional Labour Commissioner Md Rizwan said after a tripartite meeting held in Siliguri today.

The conciliation meeting was held in the office of Addition al Labour Commissioner for North Bengal Zone, chaired by Amiya Das, Deputy Labour Commissioner, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, and assisted by Neil Chhetri, the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Birpara.

Notably, the labour department intervened and called for a meeting on 19 January this year, following the suspension of work notice. As the meeting ended inconclusively, the department called another meeting on 27 January.

According to official sources, the management has finally agreed to reopen the garden from 28 January and make payment s that are due for a period between 3 January and 14 January within three working days after the reopening of the garden. "It was also decided that issues which were discussed in the Indian Tea Association office, Dooars Branch, will be implemented by either side and no indiscipline will be indulged in. There will be two notified fixed labour day every month to discuss garden issues and it would be routed through operating unions," a source said.

Sources further said that the management reiterated implementation of the MGNREGA in the garden as per the 2010 settlement, and that the unions as well as workers agreed to cooperate and help in pursuing the matter with the administration and implementation of the MGNREGA in the garden. Notably, in response to such support, the management has agreed to plan out construction and operation of the factory in the garden.

Asked to comment, Additional Labour Commissioner, Md Rizwan, said: "All this has become possible due to the dynamic and active leadership of the Minister in Charge for our department, Becharam Manna. Some tea gardens are under process of reopening. Ten gardens are closed across North Bengal. A total of 31 tea plantations have been reopened during the pandemic period so far."