Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha Yuwa Manch

Office of Raju Bista
Press Release
29th of Sept, 2022

Today, I have asked the Chairman, Tea Board of India to take legal action against the Darjeeling Organic Tea Estates Private Limited

I have informed the Chairman that the Managers and Administrative staff of the Darjeeling Organic Tea Estates Private Limited (DOTEPL) which runs 10 tea gardens in Darjeeling hills, namely – Happy Valley, Ambootia, Monteviot, Magarjung, Moonda-Bansghari, Rongmook Cedar, Chongtong, Alubari, Rangeyroong and Pandam Tea Estates have fled the gardens. They are most likely doing this under instructions from the tea estate owner(s), to avoid paying the workers their due wages and the puja bonus.

This is a very unfortunate development, and at the same time, nothing less than a criminal act.

In the recent past, the WB Government, the Darjeeling District Administration, and the GTA administrators had rushed through negotiations with the DOTEPL representatives that had caused the garden to be shut down in the first place, then opened, and shut down again.

Even though it is because of the failure of the WB Govt, Darjeeling District Administration, and the GTA Administrators that the workers are once again forced to face a financial abyss, the tea garden owner(s) are equally to be blamed. Given the way the tea companies are willing to forsake the lives of nearly 10,000 workers and their dependent family members in a lurch, they have exhibited sheer opportunism and lack of empathy for the plight of the workers'.

I am therefore requesting you to kindly initiate legal proceedings against the DOTEPL under Section 16 of the Tea Act, 1953 including cancellation of their licences, and initiating criminal complaints against them.

I am looking forward to hearing from him with 'action taken' report at the earliest.

*Raju Bista*
*Member of Parliament Darjeeling and*
*National Spokesperson, BJP*

*Reaction to WB Govt Decree on Instalment Bonus for Hill Tea Workers*

I am extremely disappointed to see the biased and discriminatory attitude of the WB Govt towards the tea garden workers of the hill region from our Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. While the tea companies have agreed to 20% bonus for the tea gardens in Terai and Dooars region, the tea companies in the hills had said they want to give the bonus in two instalments. However the negotiations were ongoing.

Despite producing some of the best tea in the world, that sells for some of the highest prices in the international market, Tea Garden workers in Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars are today one of the lowest-paid industrial workers in the nation. Because of which, they are dependent on the annual bonus for their Dasai and Durga Puja celebrations. This annual delay in granting of bonus to the hill tea garden workers leaves them highly vulnerable to the rising market prices due to the festive season.

Instead of helping the workers, now the WB Govt has issued a decree stating that the bonus will be paid in two instalments 15% before Dasain and 5% before Diwali. The two festivals are set roughly 15-days apart, so I don't see how paying the bonus in instalments will benefit the tea companies. I fail to understand the financial or any other logical behind this absurd decision. Whereas, lack of access to their hard earned money prior to major festival like Dasai will leave the workers family severely impacted, and it also negatively impacts the local economy. I strongly feel that the decree passed by the Additional Labour Commissioner on behalf of the WB Govt is nothing but another means of demeaning the hill people and undermining our rights.

This shameful act of discrimination by WB Govt must be protested by all.

*Raju Bista*
*Member of Parliament, Darjeeling and*
*National Spokesperson, BJP*

23rd,24th & 25th September be there at city center to celebrate World Tourism Day organised by .The Sunday Haat will be present at the WTD Festival .look out for Stall no 12 & 14
From 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.