Kurseong, Feb. 19: Jogmaya Tea Estate started functioning today after the management paid up 90 per cent of the workers’ three months’ dues.

On December 23, the management had left the garden, located 20km from here, without any notice and payment of wages to the 178-odd workers. The estate authorities have now decided to run it “smoothly”.

“Yesterday, 90 per cent of the dues which amounts to nearly Rs 8 lakh — the total till January is around Rs 9 lakh — were paid to the workers. The remaining 10 per cent will also be distributed soon,” said Sajal Roy, the accountant of the estate, today.

For the past three months, the garden workers have been doing their duties, although they have not been receiving their wages. Most of them have been thriving on credits given by local grocery shops.

The district administration had held a meeting with the leaders of the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union, affiliated to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, and the assistant labour commissioner of Kurseong on February 11. The garden management, which was absent in the meeting, had asked for seven days to clear the dues.

“The management has decided to run the garden smoothly from now on. However an arrest warrant has been issued against the manager, Purna Tamang, as it is illegal to run away from the garden in that manner. He is still absconding,” said Dipyendu Das, the subdivisional officer of Kurseong.

On Monday, two social organisations of Darjeeling had distributed food items to the workers after the plight of the garden employees was highlighted in the media.

Satish Chettri, the local leader of the union, was happy to receive the payment. “It is a huge relief for the workers as schools are about to reopen soon. Some portion of the money will be spent for education fees of their children. The administration has also started the 100-day work in the garden. The casual workers of the estate are engaged in the job,” he said.

Dilmaya Mangar, a 40-year-old worker who for the past three months trudged 1.5km from Ghayabari to attend to her work , echoed the union leader. She said: “We are thankful to the management. We can now clear our dues.”