Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Binay Tamang on Sunday started his
indefinite hunger strike here over hill tea workers’ bonus, declaring
there would be no “further negotiations” and that the agitation would be
lifted only after he receives a “written agreement” for a bonus of 20
per cent.
Tamang launched a no-holds-barred attack on the
Darjeeling Tea industry management, saying the proprietors were
exploiting and taking advantage of the situation.
“I had given
them an ultimatum till October 4 but they choose to ignore it. There
will be no further negotiations on the bonus issue now. I will lift this
hunger strike only after I receive a written agreement stating that
they will pay 20 per cent bonus,” said Tamang. He made it clear that the
tea industry management would be “held responsible if anything happens”
to his health.
Tamang started this agitation to demand bonus at
the rate of 20 per cent of a worker’s annual earnings. The management
has so far only offered 15.5 per cent, leading to a deadlock and
resulting in the hill tea workers going without their bonus during Puja
for the first time in recent memory.
The Morcha leader warned that his party would harden its stand
against the management on different fronts. “These days, roads in tea
gardens are constructed by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
(GTA), houses and sanitation (facilities) are given by the GTA and state
government. We take care of the water supply, too. The management has
been mollycoddled a bit too much but things will change now,” Tamang
said. Tamang’s party colleague Anit Thapa heads the GTA.
Tamang
threatened to close down “resorts in tea gardens”, claiming they had
been set up without proper permission from the state government and the
GTA. “Tea garden workers are being made to work in these resorts for Rs
176 (daily). This will stop now.”
The Tamang faction of the Morcha
said it would ensure “all fringe benefits” laid down in the plantation
and industrial acts are implemented in the hill gardens.
“The
management no longer distributes coal and firewood to workers. They will
have to distribute from January 2020. We will ensure that all fringe
benefits are given to the workers. The management has stopped
reimbursing medical expenses of workers. They will have to start doing
so from today according to the prevalent rules,” Tamang said.
Tamang also alleged that the tea management had created “fake buyers” outside India and threatened to “expose” them.
Morcha
supporters brought out a rally from Ghoom with Tamang joining from
Dali, around 4km from the town. Later, Tamang sat on the hunger strike
at Darjeeling Motor Stand. The Darjeeling Tea industry had not
officially reacted to Tamang’s statement till the filing of this report.
https://www.telegraphindia.com
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