GTA to pay puja bonus to workers of closed tea gardens

EOI, DARJEELING, 20 OCT 2023 : The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration has decided to pay puja bonus to the workers of the closed tea gardens of the hills from the GTA Chairman's Relief Fund collected during the pandemic. On Friday, the GTA chairman Anit Thapa held meeting with the Joint Forum, comprising seven trade unions and the GTA Sabhasads and officials. 

The JF comprises the Hamro Party, BJP, Congress, Gorkha National Liberation Front, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists and the Communist Party of India Marxists. 

Thapa said the need of the hour was to tide over the crises faced by workers of seven closed tea gardens ahead of the Dasai and Tihar festivals. 

"In today's meeting we felt this was the right time utilize the relief fund collected during the pandemic. It cannot be that while some houses be happy, others at the same time be unhappy and sad during the puja festivities. We therefore decided to go ahead with the proposal placed by the JF to distribute bonus to the workers of the closed tea gardens from the relief fund," he said. 

Citing financial stress and indiscipline among workers, the owners of Moonda Kothi, Chungthung, Rungmukh-Cedar, Ambootia, Pandam, Peshok and Mangarujung tea gardens have declared a lock-out, leaving more then 5000 workers in duress. 

Thapa said it was important rise above party and politics to work for the workers of the tea gardens. "We may have political differences. 

However, humanity and brotherhood is utmost. We feel it is the need of the hour," the GTA chairman said. 

When the Coronavirus pandemic hit the nation, apprehending the tea garden workers to be hit the worst in the hills, the GTA under Thapa had initiated a campaign to collect monetary donations. 

As per records, Rs.2.12 crores had been collected which is presently lying in a bank account under the GTA chairman relief fund. 

Ajoy Edwards, president of the HP who attended the meeting said he appreciated the prompt action of the GTA chairman. 

"As a Sabahsad I had placed a proposal to the GTA chairman to utilize the relief fund amount as bonus for the workers of the closed tea gardens. From the bottom of my heart I appreciate the GTA chairman taking a positive and non-political view in agreeing to the proposal. I will sleep well today knowing that the workers of the closed gardens will also celebrate the Dasai festival happily," he said. 

Earlier the GTA had wanted to construct a Shramik Bhawan for workers in Siliguri with collected relief fund. The opposition political parties and trade unions opposed the decision asserting the money be distributed to the workers reasoning that public money should not be utilized for government projects. 

A committee has also been formed comprising representatives from the various trade unions, GTA Sabhasads and officials to oversee the distribution of the relief fund. 

"As of now, there are more than five thousand workers in the seven closed tea gardens. We have Rs.2.12 crores in the bank. We will have to work out the amount we should distribute equally to the workers. 

So far, we are eyeing Rs.4000 for each worker," a source said not wishing come on record. 

The state government has directed tea garden owners to pay puja bonus to workers at the rate of 19 percent, a climb down of one percent. The government has also said that 19 percent is not binding to financially stressed garden who will be able to negotiate with trade unions, locally. 

This announcement by the state government has opened a Pandora's box with several owners citing huge loss and only willing to pay bonus between 9 to 16 percent. 

As a result workers have launched protests and agitation in various tea gardens even as per reports few gardens have started distributing 19 percent bonus, at one go. 

Earlier, the 55000 workers of the 87 tea gardens were paid 20 percent bonus in two installments by the management.