The fate of Manjolai tea estate workers remains uncertain, leaving them frustrated and disheartened after Chief Minister M.K. Stalin failed to address their concerns. These workers, employed at the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd (BBTCL) tea plantation in the Western Ghats near Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district, have been struggling since the plantation’s closure. The shutdown has left over 500 workers and their families without a livelihood. Despite numerous requests to the government over the past nine months to reopen the plant, the government has been unresponsive, and the workers’ hopes were dashed even during the Chief Minister’s recent visit to the area.
மாஞ்சோலை தேயிலை தோட்ட தொழிலாளர்கள் பிரச்னை!#Manjolai | #Tirunelveli | #MKStalin | #TNGovt pic.twitter.com/cyt0UrkBQb
— PuthiyathalaimuraiTV (@PTTVOnlineNews) February 7, 2025
During his two-day visit to Tirunelveli district, Stalin inaugurated various government projects. On the first day, he launched the Tata Solar and Vikram Solar initiatives and held a road show with the public. Later, he met with newly inducted party members and executives. In a lighter moment, Stalin visited a shop Iruttu Kadai halwa, enjoyed the treat, and posted a photo on social media.
The second day of his visit was marked by plans to meet with the Manjolai tea estate workers at the Vannarapettai government guest house. The workers, who had traveled overnight to meet him, arrived at 7 a.m. but were kept waiting until 9 a.m. Frustrated, they staged a dharna outside the guest house. The police tried to disperse the protesters but eventually allowed five workers to meet with the Chief Minister. However, their concerns were not addressed, and they were only given the opportunity to submit a petition before being sent away.
The workers expressed their disappointment, revealing that they had been without work for nearly nine months after the BBTCL administration shut down the tea estate. With no work in tea estates, they have been struggling to make ends meet. Despite receiving assurances from DMK Minister K.N. Nehru that they would be allowed to meet Stalin, their hopes were shattered when the Chief Minister’s convoy left without stopping to hear them out.
Feeling ignored and let down, the workers voiced their anger, stating they had endured immense hardship to meet Stalin, hoping for a resolution to their problems. However, their last hope was now crushed.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Stalin went on to inaugurate 23 completed projects worth ₹1,304.66 crore at a government hospital, laid the foundation for 20 new projects worth ₹309.05 crore, and distributed welfare aid totaling ₹167 crore to 75,151 beneficiaries. During his address, Stalin reiterated that Tirunelveli district would soon see significant growth, describing it as the “tiger’s leap” of the future, while also emphasizing that the DMK’s policies and achievements would ensure its continued governance in Tamil Nadu.
(With Inputs From Vikatan)
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