The Panighatta tea estate, a member of the Tea Association of India, located at the foothills of Darjeeling district was shut down on 10 October, leaving thousands of workers unemployed and without means to livelihood. The owners had been refusing to give bonus to the workers and when then workers protested, the estate was shut down. The shutting down of the estate poses severe threat to the survival of the workers and their families who have not even been paid wages of the month before the estate was shut. This snatching of livelihood of workers already taken five lives. Five workers have died in a week’s time owing to lack of basic amenities like food and health care. The shutting down of Panighatta tea estate has brought the number of closed and abandoned gardens to 32. The famished workers of the closed Panighata Tea garden have been on hunger-strike for the last 8 days demanding opening of the garden and payment of 20% bonus. AICCTU leaders of the district have visited the garden and met the striking workers. AICCTU has also called the workers to participate in the tea sector strike on 1st December. Relay hunger strike will also be organised at 45 different spots on 30 Nov. from 8 a.m. through to 8 p.m.
