Tea garden workers in Tripura receive 16% wage hike after six years

Agartala: In a significant move aimed at uplifting the tea plantation workforce, the Tripura government has announced a 16% hike in the wages of tea garden workers. Labour Minister Tinku Roy made the announcement on Friday, stating that the daily wage for adult workers has been increased from Rs 176 to Rs 204, while wages for minor workers have gone up from Rs 88 to Rs 102.

The minister noted that the last wage revision was implemented in January 2018, when the daily earnings of adult workers were raised from Rs 105 to Rs 176, and for minors, from Rs 52.50 to Rs 88.

“In response to long-standing demands for wage revision, the state government recently constituted a 10-member committee headed by Swapna Das Pal, MLA of the 46-Surma Assembly Constituency,” said Roy. “The committee, with a tenure of six months, was tasked with reviewing the wage structure of tea garden workers across the state.”

The committee convened a key meeting on May 28, chaired by Swapna Das Pal, to deliberate on the issue. Following a detailed assessment, the panel recommended a 16% hike in wages, which has since been approved by the state government.

Underscoring the government's commitment to holistic welfare, Minister Roy highlighted a series of initiatives undertaken to improve the living standards of tea garden workers.

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“Gone are the days when these workers were left to fend for themselves,” he said. “Today, they are being brought under the umbrella of critical welfare schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. We are ensuring access to housing, electricity, drinking water, sanitation, and ration cards.”

According to Roy, 6,595 tea garden worker families have so far benefited from government schemes. Over the past six years, land pattas have been distributed to 3,166 families, with the remainder set to be covered soon. Additionally, 4,922 families have received priority group ration cards.

“This is a government dedicated to the welfare and dignity of the working class,” Roy concluded.