The West Bengal government and the Tea Planters’ Association of Darjeeling hills on Friday agreed to the demand of tea garden workers across 87 gardens in the Darjeeling hills for a 20% bonus. Earlier, on October 4, the tea garden workers had observed a 12- hour strike demanding 20% bonus. Binay Tamang ends hunger strikeWith the announcement of 20 % bonus, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha leader Binay Tamang, who had been on a hunger strike since October 6 over the demand, ended his protest. Mr. Thapa said Mr. Tamang health had worsened and he was being taken to Siliguri for medical intervention. Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista, in a statement, congratulated tea garden workers and demanded that Minimum Wages Act should be implemented in the tea gardens.

Source: The Hindu October 12, 2019 00:00 UTC