Naxalbari, 04th March: A protest rally was organized by the Indian Tea Workers Union Naxalbari Block Committee on various issues in the interest of tea workers today. Later, a gate meeting was organized by the committee.
BTWU Central Committee Secretary Uma Shankar Dubey, Naxalbari Block Committee President James Khalak, General Secretary Rama Shankar Chaudhary, Secretary Prem Prakash Ojha, and other activists were present at the meeting.
Addressing the media, Prem Prakash Ojha said that around 30,000 workers working in tea gardens under the Naxalbari block are living under several difficulties. He claimed that necessary steps are being taken by the union in the interest of tea workers to bring an end to their sufferings. The block secretary added that a rally and various gate meetings were held in tea gardens like Belgachi Tea, Marapur, Manjha, Ord Terai, Trihana Azamabad, Atal Pahargoomiah, and more in the wake of the issue.
Prem Prakash Ojha went on to say that such meetings were held on demands of minimum daily wages, arrears of the staff, land lease, extra leave price (paid to those who pluck more than the given task in a day), facilities for children, and various other issues. He asserted that a massive demonstration will be initiated by the union if the demands of the workers are not met.