Tea Workers Crisis in Jalpaiguri: The tea gardens of North Bengal are not just economic enterprises—they are cultural landmarks and lifelines for thousands of families. Yet, they often become sites of exploitation and neglect. In December 2025, the Mogulkata tea estate in Banarhat block of Jalpaiguri witnessed a dramatic collapse when its manager abandoned the garden, leaving over 1,000 workers unpaid and jobless.
This incident highlights the systemic vulnerabilities of India’s tea industry, the precarious condition of workers, and the urgent need for governance reforms. The Mogulkata crisis is not an isolated event but part of a larger pattern of mismanagement, wage disputes, and political confrontation in Bengal’s tea belt.
1. Tea Workers Crisis in Jalpaiguri: The Incident
- Workers reported that the management failed to clear a fortnight’s wages and 4% of the Puja bonus.
- Despite assurances, payments were not made.
- Workers staged a sit‑in protest outside the manager’s office.
- The next morning, they found the garden locked, with the manager and assistant manager missing.
- Around 8,000 quintals of green tea leaves collected by workers lay rotting in the factory.
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2. Human Cost of the Crisis
The abandonment of the estate has devastating consequences:
- Families dependent on daily wages face hunger and uncertainty.
- Provident fund contributions and gratuity payments remain pending.
- Children’s education and healthcare are disrupted.
- Workers feel betrayed after years of loyalty to the estate.
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3. Workers’ Voices
Union leaders and workers expressed outrage:
- Prem Oraon (Trinamool Cha Bagan Sramik Union): “There was no disturbance. Why did the management leave the garden?”
- Gupta Munda (BJP‑backed Bharatiya Tea Workers’ Union): “Despite assurances, wages were not paid. The protest was peaceful.”
- Workers fear owners may blame them for damage to tea leaves.
4. Governance and Accountability
The crisis exposes governance failures:
- Why were dues not cleared despite tripartite meetings?
- Why did management abandon without notice?
- Why are provident fund and gratuity payments pending?
- The district labour department convened a tripartite meeting to resolve the issue.
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5. Historical Context of Tea Garden Struggles
North Bengal’s tea gardens have a long history of unrest:
- In 2015, several estates closed over bonus disputes.
- In 2018, starvation deaths were reported in closed gardens.
- In 2023, workers protested against delayed provident fund payments.
The Mogulkata crisis fits into this broader narrative of systemic neglect.
6. Political Dimensions
The incident quickly became political:
- TMC and BJP‑backed unions blamed management.
- Opposition parties accused the ruling government of failing to protect workers.
- The crisis reflects the politicization of tea garden labour issues in Bengal.
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7. Broader Implications for Democracy and Development
The Mogulkata crisis reflects larger themes:
- Labour rights: Workers must be treated with dignity and fairness.
- Economic justice: Exploitation undermines India’s development goals.
- Public trust: Governance must prioritize vulnerable communities.
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Global Comparisons
Other countries face similar challenges:
- In Sri Lanka, tea workers have protested against low wages.
- In Kenya, plantation workers demand better conditions.
- India must learn from global best practices in plantation governance.
Conclusion
The Mogulkata tea estate crisis in Jalpaiguri is more than a local dispute—it is a wake‑up call for India’s tea industry and governance systems. By abandoning workers without pay, management has exposed the fragility of plantation labour relations. The incident demands urgent reforms in wage security, provident fund management, and accountability mechanisms.
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