Siliguri, 25th September: An emergency meeting was held at Shramik Bhavan in Dagapur, Siliguri, on Friday to discuss several key issues concerning tea garden workers, including their bonus, reopening of closed tea gardens and payment of workers’ outstanding dues.
Minister Arjun Singh, representatives of tea garden companies and officials from the concerned departments were present at the meeting. During the meeting, the minister issued a firm message on several issues concerning the tea industry.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Minister Arjun Singh said a 20 per cent bonus had been announced for tea garden workers. So far, 19 tea garden companies have paid the bonus to their workers.
Regarding tea gardens that have remained closed for a long time, Singh said several gardens had become embroiled in difficulties due to wrong agreements and decisions in the past. He alleged that some companies had failed to deposit workers’ PF and ESI contributions and had left without clearing outstanding dues.
The minister also said strict action would be taken against allegations of illegal sale of tea leaves from closed tea gardens. A special task force has been formed to monitor the situation, while police and the district administration have been instructed to keep a close watch on the sale of tea leaves from closed gardens.
Singh said new companies and entrepreneurs would also be given opportunities to help revive the tea industry. He said if a capable company or entrepreneur wants to operate a garden and clears the previous outstanding dues, the government would consider allowing them to operate the garden based on a new proposal.
