Amid tight security, cheques distributed in Dolu, Silchar

A CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Amid heavy security and even flag march by police, the first instalment of compensatory cheques were ceremonially distributed on Monday among the labourers of Dolu TE estate where a greenfield airport would be set up. Altogether 141 labourers, all retired, had received the cheques from Silchar Sadar Circle Officer Kumar Gaurab Das, District Labour Inspector V Chinzah as well as Supriyo Sikdar, deputy general manager of the estate. However, a few labourers, even after receiving the cheque, clearly said, in no way they will allow the garden to be handed over to the government for setting up of airport as that would spell dooms for their future.

Out of Rs 50 crore, the tea estate had received from the government as compensation, a sum of Rs 2.37 crores was released in the first phase for disbursing the PF and gratuity dues of the retired labourers. Sikdar informed that Rs 1.57 crore had already been deposited in the PF account of the labourers who had formally applied. On Monday remaining Rs 80 lakh on account of gratuity were disbursed among 141 out of 170 labourers who had been short listed. After this first phase disbursement, the estate authority would owe Rs 1 crore to the labourers either as PF or gratuity benefit.

Meanwhile, apprehending mass protest by the agitated labourers, the district administration arranged tight security throughout the Dolu Tea estate, the proposed site for the greenfield airport. The labourers had resisted the demarcation process last month forcing the administration to convene public hearing.

On Sunday, an all party meeting, attended by a group of leading citizens strongly advocated for setting up the airport at the proposed site. Local MP Dr Rajdeep Roy, who presided over the meeting later told the media that Maoist forces were behind the labour unrest.

However situation on Monday at Dolu was quite normal. Even the heavy presence of forces coupled with flag march, led by DIG and SP did not make any ripple in the garden.

However, peaceful disbursement of compensatory cheques not necessarily meant the dying down of resentment of the labourers. Kunjalata Ghatowar, a Bagan Panchayat who came to the estate office to receive the cheque for her husband who had expired, clearly said, whatever had been given was their own earnings, but that would not compensate the loss they would be subjected to face. "In no way we will leave our land the land we cultivate, the land that give us rice," she concluded.

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