North Bengal, October 30 | IPU Media Update News: The one-week deadline issued by West Bengal Labour Minister Arjun Singh to the managements of closed tea gardens in North Bengal has passed, but the government's stated goal of reopening the affected estates has not been achieved on the expected scale.

On September 25, 2026, the state government directed the managements of closed tea gardens to resume operations and address outstanding workers' dues. The minister warned that estates failing to comply could be taken over by the government and handed to new operators willing to restart operations. However, a report published on October 28 stated that no garden had reopened as a direct result of the deadline and that no government takeover had taken place.

Key Deadlines and Outstanding Issues

No Government Takeovers: Despite the minister's warning, no government takeover of the closed tea gardens had been reported by October 28. The proposed transfer of estates to new operators therefore remained unresolved.

Bonus and Outstanding Dues: The government had directed tea garden managements to pay workers a 20 per cent festive bonus by early October. Reports indicated that some managements had yet to fulfil their obligations, while workers continued to raise concerns about unpaid bonuses, provident fund contributions, gratuity and other statutory benefits. The status of individual estates requires separate confirmation.

Emergency Relief for Workers: On October 14, the West Bengal Cabinet approved a one-time financial assistance payment of ₹5,000 and an additional 50 kilograms of rice for eligible workers from closed tea gardens. The assistance was announced to help affected families facing financial hardship during the festive season.

Ambari Tea Estate Reopens: In a significant development, Ambari Tea Estate in the Banarhat area of Jalpaiguri district resumed operations on October 28 after approximately 11 months of closure. Around 600 workers returned to duty on the first day. The reopening followed discussions between the relevant stakeholders and should be distinguished from the broader government deadline, which had not resulted in the reopening of the other affected estates by October 28.

Continuing Challenges for Tea Garden Workers

The continuing closure of tea estates has placed pressure on workers who depend on the industry for their livelihoods. Many affected families have faced difficulties securing regular income and meeting basic household needs during the shutdowns.

Although the government has announced measures to address outstanding dues and provide emergency relief, the reopening of closed estates and the settlement of workers' claims remain important challenges. The effectiveness of the government's intervention will depend on further action by the authorities and estate managements.

— News Desk