15 Duncans-Goenka owned tea gardens, that were 'unofficially' closed for almost a year, are facing varied destinies now. According to the legal status, seven of the gardens namely Hantapara, Dhumsipara, Garganda, Lankapara, Tulsipara, Dimdima, and Birpara (all in Madarihat block of Alipurduar district) are awaiting Governmental steps about reopening. The Central Government earlier had issued notification of takeover.

Priyasmita Hokkolorob shared Chaaybagan Sangram Samity'spost.

February 25 at 1:24am · 

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Chaaybagan Sangram Samity added 7 new photos — with Koushik Paul and 81 others.

February 24 at 5:35pm · 

15 Duncans-Goenka owned tea gardens, that were 'unofficially' closed for almost a year, are facing varied destinies now.

According to the legal status, seven of the gardens namely Hantapara, Dhumsipara, Garganda, Lankapara, Tulsipara, Dimdima, and Birpara (all in Madarihat block of Alipurduar district) are awaiting Governmental steps about reopening. The Central Government earlier had issued notification of takeover.

The workers of Killcott, Nagaisuree and Bagrakote tea gardens (all in Malbazar Block of Jalpaiguri) have received portions of the dues and heard that the gardens will open soon.

Regarding Gangaram (in Terai), Rangli-Rangliot (in Hills) and three Land Projects (two in Islampur, North Dinajpur and one in Madarihat, Alipurduar) are yet to receive any news about their destiny.

Now, the court has ordered to pay the dues of the workers and proceed to reopen the gardens on the basis of the tripartite meeting held on 22nd January.

In that very tripartite meeting, the Duncans-Goenka management (as usual uttering about their deplorable condition) proposed dangerous conditions to exploit the workers, to burden them with excess workload and to deprive them further of basic rights. Some of those proposals are
1. To increase the daily minimum target of leaf plucking from 24 kg to 28 kg.
2. To enhance the daily spraying target to 200 litres.
3. To abolish post of paniwala, and some other posts.
4. To convert some monthly rated workers to daily rated ones.
5. To deprive many of cash and non-cash benefits and many others.

It was also settled in the tripartite that the details would be finally agreed upon at the unit/garden level.

We therefore appeal to all concerned that no undue workload or conditions of deprivation be forced upon the workers while proceeding to open the gardens.

We also want to know without delay, about the destiny of the gardens excepting the ones scheduled to reopen (the gardens mentioned for takeover or not)

Chaaybagan Sangram Samity