'Malnutrition' kills tea garden worker in Jalpaiguri

A worker of a closed tea garden today died in Mal block of Jalpaiguri district with his family alleging that he succumbed to malnutrition.
Rajen Pradhan (35), a worker of Bagrakot tea garden, was ill for sometime and was admitted to Mal block hospital today where he died, his family members said.
The tea garden has been closed for the last eight months and many workers including Rajen were suffering from malnutrition, a relative of the dead worker said.
Chitto Dey, convener of the Joint Forum of tea workers' unions alleged around 12 workers of closed tea gardens have died in the last eight months due to malnutrition and lack of proper health facilities.

"There is no electricity in the close tea gardens. No water to drink and health and sanitation facilities have completely broken down. Repeated attempts for tripartite meetings between the unions, tea garden owners and the government have failed as the owners never turn up for the talks," alleged Dey.
Ziaur Alam, secretary of the tea workers' union affiliated to the CITU also echoed Dey's allegations and said the state government was not doing enough to force the owners of closed tea gardens to hold talks and make efforts in reopening the gardens.