Workers of the closed Madhu tea estate in Alipurduar district blocked the Kalchini–Hasimara state highway for nine and a half hours on Thursday, demanding immediate payment of monthly assistance due under the state’s Financial Assistance to Workers of Locked Out Industries scheme.
The tea garden has been shut since May 18, 2025. Of its original 952 workers, 736 remain, while the rest have left for employment in other states, according to worker representatives. The protest was organised by the Pashchimbanga Cha Mazdoor Samiti.
Binay Kerketta, a central committee member of the workers’ organisation, said only 260 of the 736 remaining workers had received the monthly assistance despite the garden being closed for more than 17 months. Under the FAWLOI scheme of the state labour department, workers of closed tea gardens are entitled to ₹1,500 per month.
“When we submitted a memorandum to the state labour department, we were told that the file had been sent to Calcutta for approval. But with Puja approaching, the workers have become frustrated and blocked the road, demanding their dues,” Kerketta said.
Around 300 women workers initially left the garden intending to protest at the Kalchini police station. They later changed course and blocked the highway, where they were joined by male workers and their families. The blockade affected traffic on the state highway until district administration officials and police spoke to the protesters and persuaded them to clear the road in the evening.
One worker said the state government should release at least 15 months of assistance to the remaining workers, amounting to approximately ₹22,500 per person, in line with payments made to the 260 workers who have already received the benefit.
“This is due to the negligence of the state labour department that we are not getting the money. The state should pay at least 15 months’ money, which is around ₹22,500 to the rest of us, like the 260 workers who have received it,” the worker said.
A department source said 130 workers were likely to receive the money before Durga Puja, while payments to the remaining eligible workers would take more time. Officials assured the protesters that most of the remaining workers would receive the assistance before Puja, according to a worker who participated in the discussions.
The Madhu estate workers’ protest ended after the administration and police gave the assurance. The timing of further payments remains dependent on the labour department’s approval process, while workers awaiting assistance continue to seek release of their accumulated dues.
