Over 50 TANTEA workers protest near Valparai demanding immediate payment of Rs. 425 as daily wages which was announced by the Government, two years ago.
Coimbatore: Over 50 workers of the UPASI estate area near Valparai staged a protest in front of the estate office raising slogans and expressing anguish over the inability to work in tea estates due to lack of fair daily wages and wildlife issues.
There are 62 estates in Valparai area of Coimbatore district. Out of these, Cinchona, Chinna Kallar, Periya Kallar, Nirar, UPASI and Rayan estates operate as part of the Government Tea Plantation Corporation. Tea garden workers are reportedly paid very low wages by the management of tea estates. Two years ago, the Government issued an order to pay an average of Rs. 425 per day as daily wage to tea garden workers. At present, workers in private estate companies earn a daily wage of Rs. 425.
But in the estate areas under the Tamil Nadu Tea Plantation Corporation, workers are paid only Rs. 365 per month. Lack of fair salaries and human-wildlife conflict being on the rise has deterred tea estate workers from continuing to work. "We are working in tea estate areas to earn ourlivelihood. The TANTEA management should pay our daily wages of Rs. 425 as announced by the Government," lamented the workers.
Meanwhile, more than 50 workers of Upasi Estate area near Valparai staged a protest in front of the estate office raising slogans.