JALPAIGURI: The closure of three gardens triggered back-to-back deaths due to starvation in the Dooars region. In last 20 days, at least 12 people have died. The latest victim, Tanu Singh Ghatowa, 55, died on Thursday night.

It is learnt that three gardens at Surendranagar, Red Bank and Dharanipur - all under the Red Bank group - and were locked out on October 19, rendering more than 2,000 workers jobless. The gardens were reeling under several administrative problems from 1999.

"Our gardens were declared sick in 1999 and they were closed down several times in the past. But this time, the problem went out of control as we weren't getting our salaries from last three months. We now want the government to either find a new owner or take over the gardens," said Bhola Natta, secretary of the Dharanipur garden's unit of the National Union of Plantation Workers.

"We are crying for support for long but received only false promises from the garden administration, state government and labour unions. The gardeners can't even manage two square meals and are forced to migrate in search of odd job. Pimps are active in the garden and many have already left the gardens in search of work," said a worker of Surendra Nagar tea estate.

To make the matter worse for garden workers, allotment of foodgrains per person every week was reduced to 1.75 kg from 3.26 kg after the introduction of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in tea gardens . Also, the planters used to provide foodgrains (rice and wheat) at a subsidized rate of 40 paisa per kg, but the workers are now forced to buy the same for Rs 9 per kg.

"We are aware of the situation and are working accordingly to control the situation. We have already launched NREGA works in the garden and also planning to constitute a committee so that the workers can pluck tea leaves and sell them in other factories," said Malbazar SDO Jyotirmoy Tanti.