SIR hurdle: 42 Singtom Tea Garden workers miss out on financial aid ahead of the festive season

Nearly 42 workers of the closed Singtom Tea Garden in Darjeeling have allegedly missed out on the state's financial aid ahead of the festive season because of pending cases linked to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The garden, located some 6km from Darjeeling town, has remained closed since September 2024 after a dispute between workers and management over the payment of 20 per cent bonus.

A tea workers' union leader said the Bengal government then identified 550 workers for monthly aid of ₹1,500 under its Financial Assistance to the Workers in Locked-out Industrial Units (FAWLOI) scheme. Forty-two workers did not receive the money because of SIR complications, he said.

FAWLOI scheme aims to help workers facing financial hardship following the loss of their regular earnings.

The 508 workers received accumulated assistance for 23 months, amounting to ₹34,500 each, a few days ago. The total disbursement comes to around ₹1.75 crore.

However, the exclusion of 42 workers raised concerns about their access to welfare aid while their electoral-roll cases remain unresolved.

“These 42 workers have provident fund account numbers, and we can also vouch they are tea garden residents,” a union leader said.

Union leaders urged the state to provide the monthly aid, including dues, to the 42.