JORHAT, Oct 17 - Retired employees of Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI) at Cinnamara, staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the institute to protest against non-payment of their gratuity dues on Tuesday.
The protesters stated that large number of employees, who retired from service about 13 years ago (since 2006-2007 fiscal year), were yet to receive their gratuity money.
They said except a few handful retired employees of TTRI, most of the retired personnel have not received their gratuity money, which was "very much" required in the post-retirement period of the employees. They said that there was no provision of paying pension to retired employees of the institute.
The protesters alleged that they have been approaching the TTRI authorities several times seeking payment of their long-standing dues, "but the authorities have turned a blind eye towards them", they added.
The protesters demanded immediate release of their dues. They also expressed their apprehension about an alleged conspiracy by vested interests to shift TTRI to Kolkata and severely opposed such a proposal, if mooted.
