Workers of Tarapur Tea Garden in Sylhet have initiated a work abstention since yesterday, demanding redress for a range of unresolved issues, including payment of the last two weeks’ wages.

Among their seven-point demand, the workers are insisting on urgent repairs to their living quarters, the permanent appointment of medical staff, access to safe drinking water, establishment of a provident fund, and provision of a transport truck.

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The work abstention, jointly orchestrated by the tea garden’s workers and the Panchayet Committee, reflects a deep-seated frustration. The workers have issued a stern warning: if their grievances are not addressed by next Tuesday, they will escalate their protests.

This strike is significantly impacting tea production, especially critical in the dry season, exacerbating the financial strain on these workers' households.

Mamata Roy, a worker, expressed her distress, “I haven't been paid for two weeks, leading to a severe food shortage at home. Out of sheer necessity, I've joined this movement.”

Geeta Halder, another worker, shared her plight, “The absence of January's salary allowance forced me to deny my children school admission.”

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Sunil Modi, the general secretary of the Panchayet Committee, criticized the management's repeated failures to pay salaries on time. “This negligence has plunged our families into multiple crises. Our festive spirit for Sankranti was overshadowed by this financial distress,” he lamented.

“We seek an immediate resolution to this deadlock,” Modi added, emphasizing the dire need for a sustainable solution.