Tea workers stage demonstration against IAF
SILCHAR, August 21: Leaders and members of Akhil Bharatiya Cha Mazdoor Sangha, Cachar district unit, affiliated to CITU staged protest demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar here today to voice their anger and resentment against the arbitrary and unilateral decision of the Indian Air Force stationed at Kumbhirgram to block the Kumbhirgram–Silchar road to the general people of the area and creating untold difficulty and inconvenience in their movement. In fact, the road in question has been open to all sections of people and the workers of a large number of tea gardens in the area. It therefore came as a surprise what prompted the Air Force to close the road for the use of general public without taking them into confidence.
Chuni Lal Bhattacharjee, president, Sushil Choudhury, vice–president, and Gopal Bhumij, general secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Cha Mazdoor Sangha, reminded that along with the closure of road, the issue of acquisition of lands of Coombergram and Scotpur Tea Estates was also raised. The acquisition of land, it is apprehended, would disturb not only the production of tea in both the tea estates but also affect the large number of tea workers.
Agitated over the twin issues, the workers of Coombergram, Scotpur, Bundoo, Endogram, Burttol, Uranabund, Ainacherra, Pathecherra, Maticherra, Longlacherra, Catacherra and Digun tea gardens met in a general meeting at Coombergram, discussed and deliberated over the problems and accordingly held a mass convention at Salganga on August 4. The convention attended by people from all walks of life, besides tea workers, adopted unanimously a slew of resolutions related to the charter of demands.
It was resolved that the road from Kumbhirgram to Silchar should be opened for the public round the clock and free passage given to vehicular traffic as well. The acquisition of land of Coombergram and Scotpur Tea Estates was opposed. The proposed development works of Kumbhirgram Airport should be executed by the Airport Authority of India without any interference. Keeping in view the interest of people in general, Air Force station could be shifted to the abandoned Khareel Tea Estate. The lands already acquired for the purpose of Air Force needed to be inquired into and made public.
As decided at the mass convention, as a first step, sit in dharna was held at Kumbhirgram Airport on August 13. It was in conformity with the resolution of the mass convention that the protest demonstration of this day was also organized. In order to raise the pitch for the resolution of the problems, hundreds of workers of tea gardens, farmers, youths, students and women activists took part in the protest demonstration with placards and banners. The message conveyed through them was not to destroy the tea gardens and the livelihood of thousands of tea workers for the sake of Air Force. The memorandum articulating the grievances submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, it was expected, would be addressed to the Deputy Commissioner and the best interest of tea workers and people in general would be protected.
Source: The Sentinel 22.08.2013
