Rajganj, May 15 (Siliguri Journal) – After being closed for six months, the Bani Tea Garden in Gadheaganj, Bandhunagar, Rajganj, reopened on Wednesday. Labor leaders, workers, and tea estate owners attended the reopening event, marking a significant moment of relief for the workers.
According to reports, the estate was shut down six months ago due to a dispute between management and workers over the puja bonus, leaving many workers unemployed. The issue was nearly resolved after a tripartite meeting at the Jalpaiguri Labor Department, initiated by INTTUC Jalpaiguri district president Tapan Dey. This meeting included representatives from the tea workers, estate management, and the labor department. Consequently, the tea estate was scheduled to reopen on Wednesday morning.
In this regard, Tapan Dey expressed his satisfaction, stating that the decision came after several meetings. The owners have agreed to pay the 15 percent bonus owed to the workers in two installments. Tea estate owner Gautam Dutta acknowledged the issues and confirmed that the bonus would be distributed in two installments.
