Leftist Workers Protest Against Govt Projects in Kailashahar, Demand Employment Safeguards

On April 2, Leftist workers in Kailashahar voiced their concerns over the state government’s plans to cut down fruit and tea plantations without ensuring the livelihood of affected families. The demonstration was organized by the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and the All India Kisan Sabha Kailashahar Sub-Division Committee, who jointly submitted a deputation to Unakoti District Magistrate Dilip Kumar Chakma. This marked a significant effort by labor organizations to bring attention to critical employment issues in the region.
A delegation of four members, including Nilkantha Sinha, Niranjan Roy, Ananta Nam, and Ananta Das, presented the demands. Among the key grievances was the government’s recent move to clear vast portions of fruit orchards in the Chanthail Gram Panchayat area to make way for a bamboo plantation project. These orchards, home to mango, litchi, and jackfruit trees, are considered the largest in the region, providing sustenance and income to hundreds of worker families for decades. The protesters highlighted that this action directly threatens the livelihoods of these families and demanded that bamboo plantations be established on unused or vacant land instead of cutting down existing fruit trees. Furthermore, they urged the government to prioritize local workers for employment opportunities in the proposed bamboo plantation project.
The delegation also drew attention to the deteriorating condition of the Sonamukhi tea estate, which has been abandoned since 2007. With no steps taken to rehabilitate it, several hundred worker families who once depended on it for their livelihood are now left in desperate circumstances. While the government has proposed developing the area into a tourism center, workers claim they have not been offered any tangible employment opportunities in this new plan. The protesters insisted that immediate steps be taken to provide sustainable jobs for these tea estate workers and that their inclusion in any future development projects be guaranteed.
District Magistrate Chakma addressed the protesters’ demands, assuring them that the concerns would be brought to the attention of relevant government departments. He clarified that the horticulture department had deemed the fruit trees too old to bear fruit, justifying their removal for better use of the land. On the matter of the tea estate, he noted that the government had recently repurposed the estate land for administrative offices, including facilities such as the Unakoti District Magistrate’s Office and the Superintendent of Police’s Office. Additionally, plans are underway to develop a three-star hotel and a modern recreational park on the site, with promises of permanent employment opportunities for the displaced tea workers.
Despite these assurances, the workers expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the measures taken so far are inadequate and that local workers have not been included in the new developments. Labor leader Nilkantha Sinha emphasized that if the demands are not met promptly, the leftist worker organizations are prepared to intensify their protests, vowing to protect the interests of the labor community in Kailashahar.
The protest has highlighted critical issues surrounding employment, land use, and community welfare, drawing attention to the challenges faced by marginalized workers in adapting to government-led development initiatives.