Work resumes at Assam's Kaliabor tea estate after 30-day deadlock over unpaid wages, medical facilities

Bringing relief to hundreds of tea garden workers and their families, operations at the Kaliabor Tea Estate in Silghat are set to resume work from Monday, February 24, after nearly a month-long stalemate that had left the plantation shut and workers in distress.

In a decisive intervention, the Government of Assam facilitated the formal transfer of complete management control of the tea estate to Mam Infrastructure through its Provident Fund Department, following due legal procedures. The move comes amid prolonged allegations of non-payment of wages and denial of basic entitlements to workers under the previous management.

The estate, owned by Bagasa Plantation, had reportedly failed to provide workers with regular salaries, rations, medical facilities and provident fund benefits for an extended period. The prolonged crisis had triggered widespread anxiety among labourers, many of whom depend entirely on the estate for their livelihood.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the state government stepped in to ensure continuity of operations and protection of workers’ rights. Officials said the transfer of management authority was executed in accordance with statutory provisions to safeguard the interests of the workforce and restore stability.

The announcement has brought visible relief across the tea garden lines, with workers expressing optimism about the future under the new management. Many described Mam Infrastructure as a “new provider,” hoping for timely payment of dues and restoration of welfare facilities.

Workers also conveyed their gratitude to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and local MLA Keshab Mahanta for facilitating the resolution of the crisis.

The reopening of the estate marks a significant turnaround after weeks of uncertainty and underscores the government’s interventionist approach in addressing labour distress in the state’s tea sector—an industry that remains central to Assam’s economy and employment landscape.