Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee addressed a rally of tea garden workers in Alipurduar on 3 January 2026, promising an immediate uplift in wages and renewed attention to health and child care services if the party returns to power in West Bengal.
₹300 daily wage pledge and timeline
Answering questions from workers, Mr Banerjee said the party would raise the minimum daily wage for tea garden labourers to ₹300. He added that, if the TMC forms government for a fourth term, the increase would be implemented within seven days of taking office.
The promise follows a sustained rise in wages under TMC rule. Mr Banerjee noted that when the party first assumed office in 2011, the daily wage in tea gardens stood at ₹67 and has since risen to ₹250. He acknowledged that ₹250 is insufficient given current inflation and said the proposed increase reflects the party’s priority for Alipurduar.
Social services and healthcare commitments
Workers raised concerns about the availability of creches and medical facilities inside tea gardens. Mr Banerjee said that of the 90 to 95 crèches planned, 34 are now operational and the remainder would be brought online within two years. He also said 14 of 54 promised public health centres are functioning, and the state government is working to address a shortage of doctors.
Those assurances came alongside a pledge to raise these issues directly with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior party leaders in Kolkata. Mr Banerjee offered to escalate labour welfare problems to the Union Labour Ministry and, if necessary, accompany a delegation to Delhi to press for action.
Labour rights and pension concerns
Tea garden worker associations in Alipurduar described ongoing irregularities in provident fund contributions and gratuity payments. They said employee PF deductions had been retained by employers and employer contributions had not been deposited since May 2023. The associations also described elderly and sick workers being denied gratuity and forced to accept vouchers in place of wages.
Mr Banerjee condemned these practices and described PF as a right that must be enforced. He promised to facilitate meetings between worker delegations and central authorities to recover withheld funds and to pursue remedies for affected workers.
The exchange underscores a broader election-season focus on rural livelihoods in north Bengal. Tea garden labour is highly visible in the region’s economy and repeated promises on wages and welfare have featured across party campaigns. This announcement aims to respond to long-standing demands for better pay, childcare and healthcare inside garden communities.
As the campaign unfolds, implementation and monitoring will be critical. Workers and unions will expect clear timelines and verifiable steps on PF transfers, gratuity payments and the roll out of crèches and public health facilities. For many in Alipurduar, the credibility of the promise will be judged on how quickly and transparently it is put into practice.
Key Takeaways:
- TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee pledged to raise tea garden workers’ pay to a ₹300 daily wage if the party returns to power.
- The party committed to implementing the wage increase within seven days of forming government and to address delayed PF contributions and gratuity payments.
- Banerjee outlined progress on social services: 34 crèches and 14 of 54 planned PHCs are operational, with plans to complete the rest within two years.
