Darjeeling Tea Workers Strike for 20% Bonus, Block National Highway
Tea garden workers in Darjeeling, West Bengal, have blocked the National Highway, demanding a 20% bonus. The trade union, led by Suman Tamang, called for a 12-hour strike, supported by all political parties. The workers have been facing ongoing issues, with no resolution from recent meetings.
The tea industry is crucial to North Bengal’s economy, involving over five lakh workers. Despite some government measures, the industry seeks more comprehensive support and alternative income sources like tea tourism.
Doubts Revealed
Darjeeling -: Darjeeling is a town in the Indian state of West Bengal, famous for its tea gardens and beautiful views of the Himalayas.
National Highway -: A National Highway is a major road in India that connects different cities and states, making it important for travel and transport.
20% Bonus -: A 20% bonus means extra money given to workers, which is 20% of their regular pay, as a reward or incentive.
Trade Union -: A trade union is a group of workers who come together to protect their rights and improve their working conditions.
Suman Tamang -: Suman Tamang is a leader of the trade union representing the tea garden workers in Darjeeling.
12-hour strike -: A 12-hour strike means that the workers stop working for 12 hours to protest and demand better conditions or pay.
Political Parties -: Political parties are groups of people with similar ideas about how the country should be run, and they often support different causes.
Tea Industry -: The tea industry involves growing, harvesting, and selling tea, which is a major part of the economy in places like Darjeeling.
North Bengal -: North Bengal is a region in the northern part of West Bengal, known for its tea gardens and scenic beauty.
Five Lakh Workers -: Five lakh workers means 500,000 workers, which is a large number of people working in the tea industry in North Bengal.
Government Measures -: Government measures are actions taken by the government to help solve problems or improve situations, like providing support to the tea industry.
Tea Tourism -: Tea tourism is when people visit tea gardens to learn about tea production and enjoy the beautiful scenery, providing an alternative income source for the region.
