Shanthi Kumari (51) a mother of four children and a tea plucker in Mount Vernon estate,  was the happy recipient of a remuneration of Rs. 57,395 for the month of May.

Medagoda said that it was compulsory for a plucker to pick 18 Kilos of raw fresh leaves to qualify for a day’s salary, however Shanthai Kumari had plucked an additional 1899 kilos of tea leaves during the month of May thus entitling for a handsome monthly remuneration.

The past few months had provided an ideal climate for tea cultivation and this had increased the growth of tender tea leaves thereby enabling some other tea pluckers too, to receive incomes exceeding Rs 30,000 for the month of May., said Medagoda.  He also said efficient contribution of  estate employees  would also bring economic benefits to the country and improve the living standards of the estate labourers.(KH/SI)