Unions, MPs raise alarm over crisis in tea plantations

A high-level meeting was held in Siliguri on Sunday with leaders and representatives of various tea trade unions from the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, Dooars, and across North Bengal to deliberate on the worsening condition of tea and cinchona plantation workers.

The meeting, attended by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, Alipurduar MP Manoj Tigga, Matigara-Naxalbari MLA Anandamay Barman, Phansidewa MLA Durga Murmu, BJP State Trade Union Relation Cell co-convenor Aritra Chatterjee, Darjeeling (Hill) district president Sanjeev Lama, among others, highlighted workers’ extremely low wages, the non-implementation of new labour codes passed by Parliament, and persistent exploitation under the West Bengal government.

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“We are committed to working collectively with all trade and workers’ unions to safeguard rights, address grievances, and ensure justice for every tea and cinchona worker,” said Darjeeling MP Raju Bista after the meeting.

It was noted that Alipurduar MP Manoj Tigga had earlier written to Union commerce & industry minister Piyush Goyal, urging urgent central intervention for revival of sick tea gardens and protection of workers’ rights.

According to Mr Tigga, out of nearly 300 tea gardens in North Bengal employing about 5 lakh labourers across Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, and Uttar Dinajpur, nearly 80 per cent are now classified as ‘sick’, with many closed. This has forced families into distress migration, leaving behind children and the elderly in heart-breaking conditions.

Major closed estates listed by Mr Tigga include:

Alipurduar district: Lankapara, Dalsingpara, Deklapara, Ramjhora, and Madhu tea gardens.

Darjeeling district: Dhoteriya, Ambutiya, Changtang, Nagori, and Mundakoti tea gardens.

Jalpaiguri district: Raipur, Sonali, and Ambari tea gardens.

Mr Tigga stressed that chronic neglect, outdated infrastructure, poor mechanisation, falling market prices, and lack of coordinated government support have deepened the crisis. He sought a revival package, a central task force to investigate violations, and special livelihood programmes for tea workers, including healthcare, skill development, and social security.

Adding to the crisis, Tigga highlighted serious violations by the Andrew Yule Group, where workers in Karbala, Banarhat, Chunabhatti, and New Dooars tea gardens have not received wages on time. Provident Fund contributions have remained unpaid for over a year—violating the Employees’ Provident Funds Act—while basic facilities mandated under the Tea Plantation Labour Act, 1951, are also denied.

Similarly, several estates including Hantapara, Dumchipara, Birpara, Bundapani, Garganda, Samsing, Kalchini, Bagrakote, Nagaisuree, and Killcott have withheld wages for months, pushing workers into despair. Despite repeated appeals, the state labour department has failed to act effectively.

Mr Tigga urged the Union minister for immediate release of pending wages and PF dues, strict enforcement of labour laws, and accountability for defaulting companies.