Dooars Tea Garden Workers Protest Over Bonus And Pay

Tea garden workers in the Dooars region blocked a national highway to demand their unpaid festival bonus and wages before Durga Puja.

Protest And Highway Blockade

Workers at the Bagrakote tea estate stopped work and took to the streets to demand a 20 percent Durga Puja bonus along with pending wages for three fortnights of August and September. They alleged that ten percent of last year's bonus is also still unpaid. Due to a lack of action from the garden management, the workers blocked National Highway-17 near Mina More, which disrupted vehicle movement on the Siliguri-Dooars route and caused a long traffic jam.

Management Assurance And Resolution

Police from the Malbazar police station reached the spot upon receiving information and tried to control the situation. The workers ended their protest after the garden management assured them that the 20 percent bonus will be paid by October 13. Following this assurance, the road blockade was removed and normal traffic resumed on the highway.