Former employees of Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI) at Cinnamara in Jorhat staged dharna in front of the main gate of TTRI on Tuesday seeking payment of all post-retirement dues.
The ex-employees of TTRI under the Tea Research Association staged the protest under the banner of Tocklai Retired Employees’ Union.
The former employees said there was no pension provision for the retired staff of TTRI, which is one of the oldest tea research institutes in the world.
They said due to non-payment of their dues, they are facing a lot of difficulties during the present COVID19 pandemic situation.
They alleged that despite several written representations to the TTRI authorities, requesting the release of their dues that included leave encashment, gratuity, there was no positive response in this regard following which they decided to undertake the agitation.
A TTRI official said the authorities of the institute are taking steps to pay the dues to the ex-employees but this was not known to the agitating former employees as a result of which they staged the demonstration.