Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Chief Bimal Gurung has applauded the efforts of Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia which has resulted in the Central government ordering the Tea Board of India to take over the 7 sick gardens from Duncan-Goenka conglomerate.
In an unprecedented and historic move the Central Government has asked the Tea Board to take over the management of the seven tea gardens owned by Duncan Industries in view of their deteriorating conditions.
This is the 1st time in the history of tea gardens that the Central government has directly interfered and used the rarely provisions of Chapter III-A of the Tea Act, 1953 (29 of 1953) - which allows the Central government to take over if "tea gardens are being managed in a manner "highly detrimental" to the tea industry and to public interest."
Mr. Gurung has stated that, "the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has for the past two years kept up the pressure on the Central Government to take decisive action to protect the rights of the workers, and we are thankful to Ms. Nirmala Sitharam and Mr. SS Ahluwalia who have understood the need for protecting the rights of the workers."
"The decision to take over a sick garden by the Central government has wide repercussions, as it sends a loud and clear message to the tea garden owners that you cannot take the workers and their welfare for granted anymore... every tea garden owner will now be compelled to think and rethink before deciding to abandon a garden" said a local activist working for tea garden worker's rights who is associated with Darjeeling and Dooars Tea Workers Relief Organization - DAWN
While applauding the Central Government, Mr. Bimal Gurung has decried the "double speak" on the part of the Trinmool Congress. In particular, Mr. Gurung highlighted the fact that three tea gardens owned and operated by Alchemist Group - Dhooteria, Miling and Peshok which belongs to Trinmool Rajya Sabha MP KD Singh has not paid its workers or provided ration for the past 8 months, and has demanded action against Alchemist group as well as KD Singh.
In his statement, Mr. Gurung has said, "while the Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee has giving assurances to tea garden workers on numerous occasions, she hasn't done one single thing that would benefit them... if she is serious about providing justice to the tea garden workers , she should take approrpiate action against her own Rajya Sabha MP KD Singh and ask him to resign on the basis on non-payment of wages to the workers in our hills.... Mr. KD Singh owes the hill workers around Rs 5.54 Crores"
Mr. Gurung has also highlighted the plight of workers in Panighatta and has demanded immediate action from both the state and the Central government to resolve the crisis that workers are facing
In an unprecedented and historic move the Central Government has asked the Tea Board to take over the management of the seven tea gardens owned by Duncan Industries in view of their deteriorating conditions.
This is the 1st time in the history of tea gardens that the Central government has directly interfered and used the rarely provisions of Chapter III-A of the Tea Act, 1953 (29 of 1953) - which allows the Central government to take over if "tea gardens are being managed in a manner "highly detrimental" to the tea industry and to public interest."
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| Minister Sitharaman attending workers meet with Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwali and GJM Chief Bimal Gurung in Dooars on January, 2016 |
"The decision to take over a sick garden by the Central government has wide repercussions, as it sends a loud and clear message to the tea garden owners that you cannot take the workers and their welfare for granted anymore... every tea garden owner will now be compelled to think and rethink before deciding to abandon a garden" said a local activist working for tea garden worker's rights who is associated with Darjeeling and Dooars Tea Workers Relief Organization - DAWN
While applauding the Central Government, Mr. Bimal Gurung has decried the "double speak" on the part of the Trinmool Congress. In particular, Mr. Gurung highlighted the fact that three tea gardens owned and operated by Alchemist Group - Dhooteria, Miling and Peshok which belongs to Trinmool Rajya Sabha MP KD Singh has not paid its workers or provided ration for the past 8 months, and has demanded action against Alchemist group as well as KD Singh.
In his statement, Mr. Gurung has said, "while the Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee has giving assurances to tea garden workers on numerous occasions, she hasn't done one single thing that would benefit them... if she is serious about providing justice to the tea garden workers , she should take approrpiate action against her own Rajya Sabha MP KD Singh and ask him to resign on the basis on non-payment of wages to the workers in our hills.... Mr. KD Singh owes the hill workers around Rs 5.54 Crores"
Mr. Gurung has also highlighted the plight of workers in Panighatta and has demanded immediate action from both the state and the Central government to resolve the crisis that workers are facing
Via TheDC
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