Morcha seeks tea arrears

Calcutta, Aug. 22: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today asked the government to immediately clear the wage dues of 600 labourers in three state-owned tea gardens in Darjeeling and ensure better housing and water supply for all those employed in the sector.

The demands were raised at a meeting between commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee and a Morcha delegation led by GTA chief executive Bimal Gurung at the Gorkha Bhavan here this morning.

The Morcha leaders told Chatterjee that 600 labourers in the three gardens owned by the West Bengal Tea Development Corporation weren’t paid wages according to the new rate since April 1 last year when it was increased from Rs 67 to Rs 90.

“The minister was not really aware of this delay and assured us of quick action with regard to the arrears,” said a Morcha source.

Gurung also asked Chatterjee to ensure better housing and water supply for tea garden labourers through the panchayat department.

“We were told that the panchayat department is in the process of finalising its implementation plans for such schemes,” said a Morcha leader.

Later in the day, another Morcha delegation led by general secretary Roshan Giri met chief secretary Samar Ghosh at Writers’ Buildings.

Although neither Ghosh nor Giri commented on the meeting, calling it a “routine administrative” discussion, Writers’ sources said the transfer process of various departments, assets and accounts to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Sabha had figured in the talks.

“The government aims to complete the process by August 31. The Morcha wanted to know how it was being done and what the process was like,” said an official.

The Morcha, which is new to the task of administration, also sought inputs from the chief secretary on various aspects of governance for the day to day running of the GTA.

“They sought the chief secretary’s assistance and guidance regarding some administrative processes which they are not familiar with. The government is providing every assistance as far as this is concerned. The GTA will need some handholding in its initial days,” said the official.(TT)