Darjeeling, 18th November: An important meeting is scheduled to be held in Kolkata tomorrow (November 19) to discuss various issues including stabilization and promotion of Cinchona Plantation employees.
In a statement issued by Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chairman Anit Thapa, he stated that the state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had given a positive assurance regarding the Cinchona issue during a meeting convened by her in Nabhanna on November 03.
Hence, Thapa is expected to brief the CM on the long-standing problems of Cinchona Plantation, including promotion, stabilization, shift work and other issues, in the meeting scheduled to be held in Kolkata on Thursday. The meeting is expected to bring sunshine to the plantation workers.
Cinchona Plantation is considered to be one of the main industries in the Darjeeling Hills. However, the factories are already running in heavy losses. Over hundreds of retired workers have not yet received their gratuity payments and the sector is also finding it difficult to hand out monthly salaries to workers and employees.