Agartala: May 20: The Tripura government on Friday announced a 16% hike in the minimum daily wage for tea garden workers—from ₹176 to ₹204 for adults, and from ₹88 to ₹102 for adolescent workers. Labour Minister Tinku Roy announced the decision at a press conference held at the state secretariat, marking the first revision in tea workers’ wages since January 2018.
Responding to long-standing demands, the government recently formed a 10-member committee headed by Swapna Das Paul, MLA of the 46-Surma Assembly Constituency. The committee was tasked with reviewing employment conditions in the tea sector and recommending necessary wage revisions.
Roy said the committee held a detailed meeting on May 28, 2025, chaired by Das Paul and attended by all members. After thorough discussions, the committee recommended a 16% increase in minimum wages, which was subsequently approved by the state government.
During the press conference, an official revealed that Tripura has over 12,800 hectares of land allocated for tea cultivation, of which 6,000 hectares are currently under active plantation. A proposal has been submitted to frame guidelines for the use of unused or abandoned tea garden land.
The official also highlighted that tea worker families are receiving 22 welfare benefits under the Mukhyamantri Cha Shramik Kalyan Prakalpa, including basic amenities such as housing, drinking water, and electricity. Of the 6,785 worker families—comprising nearly 15,000 individuals—3,166 have received land ownership titles (patta), and 4,922 have been provided with priority group ration cards.
Tripura is home to 52 tea gardens, of which 11 are run by cooperatives, 5 by the Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC), and the remaining 36 are privately operated.
