Unions, MPs raise alarm over crisis in tea plantations

A high-level meeting was held in Siliguri on Sunday with leaders and representatives of various tea trade unions from the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, Dooars, and across North Bengal to deliberate on the worsening condition of tea and cinchona plantation workers.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILIGURI, 18 AUGUST

The meeting, attended by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, Alipurduar MP Manoj Tigga, Matigara-Naxalbari MLA Anandamay Barman, Phansidewa MLA Durga Murmu, BJP State Trade Union Relation Cell co-convenor Aritra Chatterjee, Darjeeling (Hill) district president Sanjeev Lama, among others, highlighted workers' extremely low wages, the non-implementation of new labour codes passed by Parliament, and persistent exploitation under the West Bengal government.

"We are committed to working collectively with all trade and workers' unions to safeguard rights, address grievances, and ensure justice for every tea and cinchona worker," said Darjeeling MP Raju Bista after the meeting.