Darjeeling, May 2: The Gorkha
Janmukti Morcha president, Bimal Gurung, has demanded a hike in the
daily wage of tea garden workers in north Bengal from the existing Rs
90-95 to Rs 322 and the formation of a separate Union ministry for the
tea industry among others.
In January, a conglomeration of tea
garden unions, including that of the Morcha, had sought Rs 322 as the
daily wage, citing the rise in the prices of essential commodities.
Gurung sought more
than three-times hike, made through a Facebook post to mark May Day,
“to enable our brothers and sisters working in the tea gardens to live a
dignified life”.
Gurung made five demands concerning the tea industry.
“On this day, the
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha demands the following: 1. A hike in wages for the
tea garden workers from Rs 95 to Rs 322 per day to enable our brothers
and sisters working in the tea gardens to live a dignified life. 2. The
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha also demands a separate Ministry for the tea
industry by the Government of India,” reads Gurung’s post.
The Rs 95 that
Gurung is referring to is for workers in the Dooars tea gardens. In the
Darjeeling hills, a labourer gets a daily wage of Rs 90.
In 2011, the
Darjeeling tea industry managed the biggest hike in its history as the
wages were raised from Rs 68 to Rs 90 for three years at one go. For
workers in the Dooars, the pay was increased in phases, touching the Rs
95 mark in the third year.
A revision in the wages in north Bengal for a period of three years from 2014 was to have come into effect on April 1.
Sources in the
Morcha claimed that Gurung had sought Rs 322 after comparing the wages
of workers in coffee plantations in other states. “The daily wage in
coffee plantations in South India is more than Rs 250,” said a Morcha
leader.
Although
negotiations to strike a new wage deal between planters and trade unions
have started, a consensus is yet to be reached at.
“Two rounds of
talks have already been held in Siliguri. The meetings were chaired by
labour commissioner Javed Akthar. The third round of talks is scheduled
for June and will most probably be held in Darjeeling,” said a source in
the tea industry.
However, the planters’ associations refused to react to Gurung’s demand for the triple hike.
With regard to
Gurung’s demand for a separate central ministry for the tea industry,
the Morcha sources said: “The BJP has informally agreed to set up a
separate ministry for the tea industry if voted to power. Narendra Modi,
the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, has already been briefed on this
demand,” said a Morcha source.
At present, the tea sector is under the Union commerce and industry ministry.
The other three
demands by Gurung are “3. Maternity benefits for all women tea workers,
setting up of special committee for the safety of Women and Children in
all the gardens, crèche, shade and toilet facilities, pensions and
Medical Insurance. 4. Revision of the outdated Plantation Labour Act
1951. 5. Land Rights for tea garden workers…”
The CPM candidate
for Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat, Saman Pathak, today welcomed Gurung’s
demand for Rs 322 as the daily wage. “The CPM has thought of demanding
at least Rs 285. Gurung’s demand for Rs 322 should be welcomed.”(TT)