Darjeeling tea workers stage 12-hour strike, bringing city to a halt
- In Reports
- 04:01 PM, Sep 30, 2024
- Myind Staff
On Monday, parts of Darjeeling in West Bengal were completely shut down as tea estate workers staged a 12-hour strike, effectively paralysing the region. The strike was called by the Tea Workers' Protection Committee (Chiya Shramik Suraksha Samiti) after a tripartite meeting with the Labour Department ended without resolution regarding the workers' long-standing demands. The meeting, chaired by the Labour Commissioner, was held at Shramik Bhawan but failed to bring any conclusive results, as reported by The Statesman.
The workers, as part of their protest, blocked roads leading to the hill areas and stopped vehicular movement, bringing transportation to a halt. Although emergency services and tourists were allowed to pass, the shutdown had a significant impact on the region’s day-to-day activities. The 'bandh' started early at 6 AM and continued throughout the day, causing a large disruption in local traffic and economic operations. Vehicles were also locked at multiple points, including major areas such as Kurseong and Sukna, Siliguri Times reported.
The trade unions representing the tea workers, mainly operating under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), have been demanding a 20% bonus for the workers. During the meeting with the authorities, the workers' representatives stood firm on this demand. However, local officials, including those from the Darjeeling Tea Association, expressed their inability to meet this request due to financial constraints.
Meanwhile, in another development, the Tea Association of India (TAI) had recently announced that tea workers from the Dooars and Terai regions of north Bengal would receive a 16% bonus for the financial year 2023-24. This bonus was agreed upon after talks between trade union representatives and members of the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations (CCPA), which represents tea garden employers. However, this offer has not satisfied the demands of the Darjeeling workers, who continue to push for higher compensation.
The situation has drawn political attention as well. BJP MP Raju Bista voiced his criticism of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media, accusing her of neglecting the hardships faced by Darjeeling’s tea workers. He remarked that “the people of Darjeeling don't matter to the Chief Minister and the West Bengal Government,” further implying that the state government had turned a blind eye to the workers' plight. Bista also urged individuals working closely with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and those aligned with the TMC to reconsider their positions in light of the ongoing struggles.
The strike and the resulting unrest have highlighted the deep-rooted dissatisfaction among tea estate workers, and with no resolution in sight, the issue is likely to continue drawing attention from both political circles and labour activists.
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