8,000 workers across 10 tea gardens stare at a bleak future

Guwahati: Tea gardens of the British-era Andrew Yule Group, now a central public sector undertaking, are grappling with severe financial difficulties that endanger timely wage and ration disbursement to 8,000 workers across 10 gardens in Assam, state industries minister Bimal Borah said.
Borah has alerted the Union heavy industries minister HD Kumaraswamy that this predicament could escalate into a law and order issue if not addressed promptly.
Borah expressed deep concern in a letter to Kumaraswamy, saying, “The management is struggling with the timely disbursement of wages and salaries, as well as the distribution of rations to workers and staff.”
Kumaraswamy acknowledged these concerns during his visit to the city on Monday. He expressed his intention to visit Assam by Oct to find a resolution for reviving the gardens. In the interim, Kumaraswamy ensured the clearance of files to facilitate a puja bonus for the tea garden workers soon.
Expressing his concern regarding the economic challenges faced by the tea gardens, Kumaraswamy also showed appreciation for Borah’s efforts in seeking intervention. He announced a 20% bonus for the tea garden wage earners.
Borah also forewarned that the economic distress could become a significant social issue, with groups potentially exploiting the situation to incite unrest. “The risk probability is further amplified as groups with vested interests are looking forward to exploiting this situation to incite unrest,” he said.
Last month, Assam chief secretary Ravi Kota also wrote to Kamran Rizvi, the secretary of the Union ministry of heavy industries, highlighting the financial distress faced by Andrew Yule & Co. Ltd.
According to Kota’s letter, state govt is given to understand that the challenges include significant crop losses due to fungal and caterpillar infestations, rising wage costs and a depressed tea market in 2023-24. These factors contributed to a Rs 99.72 crore loss in FY 2023-24.