Residents of villages in and around Ithalar staged a demonstration demanding settlement of dues for procurement of tea, that has been pending for the last four months. According to the protesters, there are more than 63,000 small farmers involved in cultivation of tea. “For the last 30 years the Government has not increased the procurement price of tea. Also we have not given the procurement price for the last four months,” they said and added that all farmers involved in tea cultivation in the district would stage a demonstration if the Government fails to act on their demand.