Kailashahar,Correspondent Anupam Pal: Tripura’s first tea garden, Hirachara, once a source of pride for the state, has now become a symbol of the workers’ suffering. Located in the Kailashahar Assembly constituency, this tea garden, over 120 years old, is home to nearly 600 worker families. However, these workers remain deprived of fair wages, provident fund benefits, and other basic amenities. They allege that a local influential figure, Mosabbir Ali, is exploiting them and looting their rightful earnings.
A significant portion of the workforce in Hirachara tea garden comprises the Urang and Bauri communities. After Silkut Company, another entity named Sunshine now claims to manage the garden. However, according to the workers, both companies are owned by Mosabbir Ali, who forces them to work without providing fair wages or other entitlements, such as provident fund benefits.
Workers complain that when they demand their dues, Mosabbir Ali misbehaves and uses abusive language against them. He even files false cases against them to harass and suppress their voices. Despite submitting written complaints to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and District Magistrate (DM), no effective action has been taken yet. The workers further allege that Mosabbir Ali is attempting to create communal tensions between the Urang and Bauri communities to weaken their movement.
Responding to this crisis, local MLA Birajit Sinha highlighted that the tea garden was previously managed by a chit fund company. After the chit fund scandal, the garden fell into the hands of local influential figures, including Mosabbir Ali. The MLA pointed out the longstanding exploitation of workers and urged the state government and labor department to take immediate action. He also warned of plans to gherao the district labor office if necessary.
To break free from this exploitation, the workers now seek to form a society and take over the management of the garden themselves. They believe this would ensure fair wages, proper benefits, and a revival of the tea garden.
Today, Hirachara tea garden, the first of its kind in the state, stands on the brink of destruction. Immediate government intervention is crucial to improve the lives of the workers. Ensuring their rightful entitlements and dignified living conditions has become the need of the hour.
