The tea gardens of West Bengal are set for a fierce battle between the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) within the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. With tea backyard labourers going through challenges resulting from shutdowns, it will likely be fascinating to see which approach they vote. Whereas the BJP has fielded MLA Manoj Tigga from Alipurduar, TMC has given a ticket to Prakash Chik Baraik, who is alleged to be a preferred title within the tea gardens.
There are greater than 300 tea gardens in North Bengal and thousand of labourers have been working there for years. Greater than 10 tea gardens had been shut down not too long ago whereas some are in a pitiable situation. Whereas the tea gardens of Darjeeling are a scorching vacationer spot, there are tales of sweat and ache behind these mesmerising views.
There was a time when the Left had a robust presence in these tea gardens. This was then briefly dominated by the TMC. Nevertheless, tea backyard labourers have been voting for the BJP for the previous two elections. Since 2019, the BJP has penetrated into tea backyard areas, the place a lot of the labourers are from the tribal communities. Tea backyard labourers voted for the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and in 2021 Meeting polls, making the BJP win in Jalpaiguri and Alipur.
Over the previous two years, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has tried to heat as much as the labourers. She stayed in North Bengal for nearly one week and visited tea gardens, met the labourers and even danced with them.
Mamata additionally raised the difficulty of Tea Board’s new regulation that purchased leaf factories can solely take laboratory certificates tea leaves from small sellers. Mamata acknowledged that this may result in “large issues” and held conferences to request house owners to not go forward with this. “There are a number of tea employees within the area. These tea backyard employees who produce tea right here promote to bought-leaf factories. There have been insect manifestations and tea leaves had been affected and these gardens had been closed by the Tea Board. The tea backyard employees grew to become unemployed. Why ought to they endure,” Mamata questioned.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi additionally raised the difficulty in a rally earlier this month. “Whereas the situation of the tea gardens of West Bengal is the worst, TMC leaders listed below are staying in bungalows,” PM Modi stated.
The Wind at Tea Gardens
News18 travelled to 2 tea gardens in North Bengal to get the heart beat of the employees there. Starting work at 7 am, discovering out the best sort of leaves is their focus
At Majerdhabri Tea Backyard, News18 say wholesome tea gardens with modernised expertise to course of tea. Employees, largely ladies, get Rs 250 per day and are given an incentive in the event that they pluck greater than 24 kg leaves.
“It’s okay, we get Rs 250, however I’ve a giant household. This quantity shouldn’t be sufficient to offer for meals for everybody,” stated Sarala Baraik, a lady labourer in her late 50s. With many tea backyard closures round, the employees appear to have stopped complaining and are okay with no matter they get.
When requested which approach the wind is blowing this election, one of many employees stated, “Politicians really feel we’re idiots, we aren’t idiots. It’s solely election time once we can present our power. This isn’t Panchayat election, that is desh ka election.” “Each events are combating in a giant approach, however we actually don’t know what is going to occur this time,” one other one added.
Bapan Dutta, tea backyard supervisor, instructed News18 “There are two kinds of elections – State Election and Central Elections. Within the final two years, the state authorities has give you a number of schemes. There’s a normal good feeling in regards to the Central Authorities too. They may weigh which aspect will give them extra profit and can vote accordingly.”
On the Attwari tea backyard, an old-aged employee stated, “We’re comfortable, every little thing is okay however we don’t get retirement cash. Now we have conveyed this to leaders however we don’t know whether or not they are going to take this forward or not. However I feel PM Modi is doing properly for the nation.” Etwa Orao, one other previous woman, got here up and stated that the wind is blowing in each instructions this time.
Jasmoti Johar, one other previous girl, instructed others, “Inform them that this time we’ll vote for the get together we really feel is correct. Anyone coming in can’t dictate. We’re not idiots. We all know politicians will solely come for vote.”
“No one takes care of us, every little thing is simply pomp and present, we don’t have a small bridge right here for thus lengthy regardless of telling so many individuals,” stated one other employee Tama Pai, including, “I like each didi and Modi, however don’t understand how they are going to know that now we have an issue.”
It’s clear that the emotions are blended in these tea gardens and a good combat could also be witnessed in Coochbehar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, the seats which have large tea gardens presence.
 and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.){kind=link}