Tea Garden Students Demand Education Reforms

Tea garden workers and students protested for education reforms, wage hikes, and policy changes, urging government action through a memorandum.

SNS, SILIGURI, 21 FEBRUARY 2025 : In a significant display of unity and determination, tea garden workers and students from the Terai region took to the streets yesterday to voice their grievances and demand urgent action from the state government. While tea workers observed a protest day by wearing black badges, demanding the implementation of the Minimum Wages Act, the Tea Garden Student Forum (TGSF) of the Terai Region organised a procession in Siliguri to highlight the dire state of education in government-aided schools within tea gardens. The protest, led by students from the Adivasi community, culminated in the submission of a memorandum to the sub-divisional officer, outlining six critical demands to safeguard the future of tea garden children.

The protest gained further momentum as MLA Ananda May Barman from Matigara-Naxalbari raised the issue of Chandmoni Tea Garden in the State Assembly. He highlighted the alleged encroachment of school premises by land mafias, who have reportedly constructed a building on the land, further jeopardising the already fragile education system in the region. This incident underscores the broader challenges faced by tea garden communities, where access to education and livelihood resources is increasingly under threat.

The TGSF leadership presented a six-point charter of demands to the administration, emphasising the urgent need for reforms in the education system. Their demands include the appointment of adequate teachers and infrastructural improvements in primary schools across tea gardens, ensuring that no schools in the tea belt are closed under any circumstances. Additionally, they called for a "Special Economic Package" to alleviate the financial burden of admission, registration, and examination fees for college students from tea gardens. The forum also demanded the immediate abolition of the four-year degree course, which has disproportionately affected students from marginalised communities.

Further demands include providing hostel accommodation for tea garden students admitted to Master's degree courses at the University of North Bengal, regardless of their distance from the campus. The TGSF also stressed the need for the regular provision of Tea Board scholarships and the distribution of free bus passes to students from tea gardens to ensure their access to educational institutions.

The socio-economic crisis in the tea garden regions has reached a critical juncture, with workers struggling to meet their daily necessities. The current minimum wage of Rs 260 is woefully inadequate to sustain a family, let alone cover the educational expenses of their children. This financial strain, coupled with the rising costs of education and the poor condition of government schools, has pushed many students to drop out of the system. The commercialisation of private educational institutions and the introduction of the four-year degree course have further exacerbated the challenges, leaving students from tea gardens with limited opportunities to pursue higher education.

The TGSF's protest reflects the growing frustration and desperation of tea garden communities, who see their dreams of progress through education being systematically crushed. The forum has collected approximately 1,200 signatures from students and guardians across the Terai region, underscoring the widespread support for their demands. As the state government grapples with these pressing issues, the voices of tea garden workers and students serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for inclusive and equitable policies to secure their future. The ball is now in the administration's court to address these concerns and take concrete steps toward ensuring education and livelihood rights for the tea garden communities.