"North Bengal: Workers of shut tea estates go without dole", 10 February 2022

Over 7,000 workers and their families living in 13 closed tea estates in north Bengal are grappling with financial crisis as they have not received monthly aid from the state government for four months.

In the tea industry, a permanent worker of a closed tea garden is entitled to receive Rs 1,500 a month from the state government under the FAWLOI (Financial Assistance to Workers of Locked Out Industries). This means, till date the state owes each worker Rs 6,000.

Sources in the state labour department, which disburses the money, admitted the state is in the middle of an austerity drive and payment got delayed over a fund hurdle.
“We get food grains from ration shops (under the public distribution system) free of cost. Added to that, this financial aid helps us manage two square meals. However, we have not received any aid since October last year,” said a worker of the closed Dheklapara tea estate in Alipurduar.

Another worker added: “The money means a lot to us. During winter, things become harder for us as tea production comes to a halt. We can neither sell tea leaves nor work as a casual worker in any of the other tea estates.”...