Tea workers of the Kaliabor Tea Estate at Silghat have launched a protest, accusing the estate management of failing to clear long-pending dues and demanding that the garden be handed over to another owner.
The Kaliabor Tea Estate is owned by Bagasa Plantation Private Limited. The protest began after workers alleged that the management cheated them by issuing cheques that later bounced. According to the workers, the cheques were issued in the name of gratuity to two workers, Gopal Ganju and Babita Pachi, but were not honoured by the bank.
The workers have raised several demands, including payment of 70 weeks of pending ration dues, transfer of provident fund money to the concerned authorities, and clearance of outstanding wages. They have also demanded payment of salaries pending for nearly 22 months for subordinate staff, along with other rightful benefits. 
A protest meeting was held on Saturday under the banner of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha, Kaliabor Tea Estate Primary Unit. During the meeting, workers said they have lost faith in the present management and called for the tea garden to be handed over to another owner who can run it responsibly.
At present, tension prevails in the tea garden area as the workers claimed that the management owes them nearly Rs 33 crore. The protesters said repeated requests and appeals to the management have failed to bring any solution.
The workers have sought the intervention of Himanta Biswa Sarma and the state Labour Minister to resolve the crisis at the earliest. They warned that if their demands are not addressed soon, the protest may be intensified in the coming days.
