Compensate tea workers, CITU urges Cachar administration

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, May 4: On behalf of the Akhil Bharatiya Cha Mazdoor Sangha (CITU), Cachar district committee, Chunnilal Bhattacharjee, president, CITU, has submitted a memorandum to Cachar Deputy Commissioner on April 28. On the evening of April 23, at around 5 pm, Chunnilal Bhattacharjee was at Borkhola and received information owing to the sudden flash flood; eight out of thirteen workers have been drowned. They were working in Maigarh Tea Estate. On the same evening, police and officials of disaster magement, with the help of local people of Bandherkhal were able to save five workers.

 Owing to the heavy rainfall, Jatinga river bed rises abruptly and becomes turbulent. It is stated in the memorandum that workers were asked to collect chips from the dangerous river bed. CITU has asked the Forest department to tell how the collection was allowed. They have also asked whether there was any security measure taken by the department or by the employer. CITU has urged that the Labour department to initiate an enquiry into the matter. Owing to the unemployment of workers of Balacherra, Dalu, Maigarh tea estate that the situation has gone out of control and workers are compelled to work outside the garden.

 Akhil Bharatiya Cha Mazdoor Sangha has also expressed astonishment at the lock-out order issued to Coombergram tea estate and has requested the government of Assam to arrange for compensation to the bereaved family and take necessary steps to save the workers of Coombergram tea estate. A copy of the memorandum has been sent to the Principal Secretary, Assistant Labour Commissioner and the Divisiol Forest Officer, of Cachar for information and an early action.