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CCPA, Tea Board effigies burnt at Dikom

By Staff Correspondent

DIBRUGARH, Aug 24 - The tea industry is likely to confront unrest within the plantations this year over the bonus issue. After the planters� body announced its inability to pay 20 per cent bonus, uneasiness among the work force is fast growing.

The Assam Tea Tribes Students� Association (ATTSA), which organised a demonstration on the NH-37 at Dikom today, burned the effigies of the Consultative Committee of Plantation Association (CCPA) and the Tea Board in protest against the declaration of the planters� body. Local ATTSA leaders Sanjay Kurmi and Hemanta Oraon said that the tea tribes� students� body would not accept anything below 20 per cent. �We have been exploited in almost all areas. We are denied minimum wages, welfare benefits, social security and now they want to deprive us from 20% bonus. This is not acceptable,� said Sanjay Kurmi, president, ATTSA, Lahoal branch.

ATTSA has already launched a campaign in the tea gardens against the decision of the planters on the issue of percentage of bonus. Apart from holding demonstrations in front of the offices of the tea estates, ATTSA is also considering plantation shut down as mark of protest. Hemanta Oraon, another ATTSA leader said that protests would continue and on a larger scale across gardens till the planters concede doling out 20 per cent bonus.

Besides, ATTSA, Assam Chah Mazdor Sangha and All Adivasi Students� Association (AASAA), all the organisations from the plantations have voiced their concern over the bonus issue and have threatened a massive stir.

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