Low wages, high prices and poor living conditions remain major concerns for tea plantation workers in West Bengal.
See the lush green tea gardens and admire their beauty. But behind this magic, life is not easy at all for the farm workers, who have seen little change in their lives over the years and have no choice but to continue working.
Low wages, high prices and poor living conditions remain major concerns for tea plantation workers in West Bengal. These issues have been raised repeatedly over the years as the state prepares to vote on Thursday (April 23) and Wednesday (April 29).
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Over time, many of these workers witnessed the rule of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). [CPI(M)] The decline of the government, and the rise of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which now faces strong competition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Election promises are regularly made, including guarantees of wage increases, but workers say little has changed.
This time, a new request has appeared.
A leader who “looks like Raghav Chadha” among many demands
Some workers say they want a leader like Raghav Chadha. Over the years, they have seen many leaders approach them before elections, making promises that are rarely kept.
Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader is popular among the middle class and youth for raising “common people issues”. People said this is what stands out to them.
In a conversation with HT, women tea pluckers from North Bengal spoke about their daily struggle, their election promises, and their desire for a leader “like Raghav Chadha”. Many workers were contacted, but only a few agreed to speak, and only on the condition that their identities be concealed.
Earlier, Hizb ut-Tahrir heard hesitant voices in parts of Kolkata and Siliguri when asked about the upcoming elections. Among the tea garden workers, the situation appeared more tense, as many did not want to publicly name any party or leader.
One of the tea pickers, sweating but with hopeful eyes, asked me: “Could someone like Raghav Chadha show up here?”
When asked what Chadha has achieved even in remote areas of Bengal, she said: “Someone like Raghav Chadha is needed here.” Another woman joined in and said: “He (Chadha) is talking about removing poverty. We feel that even if he is not a minister, he can take on this role. He should come here. It will be good.”
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“Didi” vs. “Dada”: Who do you prefer as tea workers?
If I were to summarize for whom these workers might vote, the answer remains unclear. There is great confusion as they continue to make their decision. None of the women gave a clear answer, and their answers varied.
While they agreed that there was anti-incumbency against the TMC government, which has been in power for 15 years, they also said that welfare work had had mixed results. However, among working women, ‘Didi’ (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) remains more popular than ‘Dada’ (referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi).
“Didi is more popular than Dada among tea plantation workers here,” said some women tea pickers aged between 30 and 40 from the Holdibari tea plantation in Jalpaiguri district.
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Speaking about their suffering, one of them said: “We do not have suitable homes. We build and live on our own. Our jobs are temporary for six months.”
Another woman said: “We are not getting proper rations. Prices have gone up. We are somehow managing to educate our children and earn a living for our family. Life is very difficult for us.”
Through my conversations with many workers, I learned that women earn a daily wage of… $250 here.
Aside from Holdibari, women from another tea garden in the area acknowledged that change was needed.
One worker, requesting anonymity, said: “Before, wages were very low. Now they have increased a little, but not enough.”
Among the workers, a 27-year-old man who supplies water also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Having lived in the park for the past 11 years and served in the role for two years, he said the TMC government had not fulfilled its promises and added that he would vote for the BJP this time. “Most women support Mamata Banerjee,” he said.
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Speaking about the main issues, he added: “Wages are low, and the cost of basics like rice continues to rise. Prices are rising.”
He said he had voted for the Trinamool Congress earlier, but now wants a change in the government.
Before the elections, the TMC government promised to increase wages of tea garden workers and ensure provident fund benefits. In January this year, the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said that daily wages would be raised to $300 if the party returns to power for a fourth term.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, TMC leader Pradeep Kumar Barma won from Jalpaiguri. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP leader Jayanta Kumar Roy won the seat.
It is worth noting that the TMC led by Mamata Banerjee is trying to strengthen its presence in North Bengal, where the BJP remains strong. While the party has reached out to tea garden workers, who form the backbone of the region’s economy, the limited improvement in their conditions may shake the TMC in the upcoming elections.
The Assembly constituencies in Jalpaiguri district are scheduled to vote on April 23.
Aryan Mudgal is a content producer at Hindustan Times with nearly three years of experience. He is part of the digital news team at HT and enjoys covering daily news and writing long, detailed featurettes on key national and global affairs. He is particularly interested in reading and writing about Indian politics, crime and civil issues, as well as world affairs. He goes berserk when covering elections, especially Lok Sabha and polls, and is always on the lookout for new stories that can interest readers. At Hindustan Times, Aryan has covered several major events, including the Bihar Assembly elections, Maharashtra civic polls, US military action in Venezuela, the Union Budget, and the Bangladesh. He previously worked with the caption team at Firstpost and the news desk at Times Network, where he covered a range of events including the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the war between Israel and Hamas, the war between Russia and Ukraine, student protests in Bangladesh, the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the Delhi Assembly elections, and more. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in CEP (Communication and Media, English, and Psychology) from Christ University, Bengaluru, and later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). He hails from Siliguri in West Bengal and enjoys reading about politics and daily issues related to the state. Outside of work, Aryan loves listening to music and enjoys rewatching his favorite shows.Read more
