Protests Erupt in Alipurduar Tea Gardens Over Unpaid Wages, Bonus Demands, and Pending Allowances

MP  | ALIPURDUAR | AUGUST 1, 2025  :  A wave of worker protests swept through three tea gardens in Alipurduar district on Thursday, as labourers raised pressing demands over unpaid wages, Puja bonuses, and pending government allowances. The unrest affected two operational gardens—Tasati and Turturi—and the closed Dalsingpara Tea Garden, highlighting ongoing financial stress in North Bengal’s tea belt.

At Tasati Tea Garden in Falakata block, the Trinamool Cha Bagan Shramik Union initiated a two-day gate meeting on Thursday morning, protesting the non-payment of wages for nearly three months. Workers claimed that over 1,100 employees have not received salaries despite repeated appeals to the management. The protest disrupted factory operations for approximately two hours.

Joining the workers, Anand Kharia, president of the INTTUC Falakata Rural Block, said, “The state government has taken significant steps to support tea garden workers—setting up health centres and crèches. Yet, owners are neglecting their basic responsibility of paying wages. This is unacceptable. If dues are not cleared immediately, we will escalate the agitation.”

In Turturi Tea Garden under Kumargram block, another protest unfolded as 501 workers, under the Alipurduar-Cooch Behar Tea Garden Mazdoor Union, submitted a memorandum demanding a 20% Puja bonus. Carrying banners and raising slogans, the workers formally handed over a letter of demand to garden authorities.

“Last year, no Puja bonus was paid, and workers’ voices were ignored,” said Bidyut Gun, general secretary of the union. “This year, we are united in our demand for a 20 per cent bonus. Over the next two days, similar memorandums will be submitted across all gardens in the district,” he added.

Meanwhile, in Kalchini block, frustrations escalated at the closed Dalsingpara Tea Garden, where workers alleged that they have not received the Financial Assistance to the Workers of Locked Out Industries (FAWLOI) for seven consecutive months. The garden has remained shut since the 2023 Puja season, leaving over a hundred workers without employment or financial aid.

The multiple protests underscore longstanding issues in the region’s tea sector, including wage delays, unpaid dues, and gaps in welfare scheme implementation. Worker unions have warned of intensified demonstrations if grievances are not addressed promptly, placing renewed pressure on both management and state authorities to act.

Courtesy & source: Millennium Post