Darjeeling MP Raju Bista in News18 Op-Ed: TMC’s Neglect Pushing North Bengal Tea Gardens & Youth into Crisis

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista’s News18 Op-Ed Blasts TMC on Bengal’s Youth Crisis: “From Decay To Doles”

Siliguri, February 23, 2026 — In a recent opinion article published on News18 titled “From Decay To Doles: How TMC Has Let Down Bengal’s Youth”, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista mounted a sharp critique of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, alleging that policy failures over the past decade have pushed West Bengal’s youth into uncertainty — with North Bengal’s tea garden belt bearing the brunt of the crisis.

While the article touches on industrial decline and unemployment across the state, Bista places particular emphasis on the worsening condition of tea gardens in Darjeeling, Terai, and Dooars.

Tea Gardens in Crisis

Bista highlights the closure of several tea estates in North Bengal, stating that these shutdowns have triggered economic instability in entire communities that depend solely on plantation work. For families in these regions, tea gardens are not just workplaces — they are the backbone of local livelihoods.

According to the MP, prolonged closures and financial distress in the sector have left thousands of workers without steady income. He argues that this has directly contributed to rising poverty, migration, and vulnerability among young people in the hills and adjoining areas.

The crisis, he claims, is particularly worrying because tea garden communities have historically faced social and economic marginalisation. With limited alternative industries in the region, unemployed youth are compelled to migrate to metropolitan cities for survival.

Migration from the Hills and Plains

In his article, Bista notes that the outflow of young workers from Bengal has intensified in recent years. However, he suggests that North Bengal has been hit disproportionately hard.

Young men and women from tea garden families are increasingly seeking low-paying jobs in cities outside the state. Entire villages, he argues, are witnessing shrinking populations as working-age residents leave in search of employment.

Bista warns that unchecked migration is not only draining the region of its skilled and educated youth but also weakening the social fabric of these communities.

Industrial and Employment Concerns

Beyond the tea sector, the Darjeeling MP reiterates concerns about industrial slowdown across Bengal. He links the state’s unemployment challenge to policy decisions that, in his view, discouraged investment and private sector growth.

He also raises the issue of large numbers of vacant government posts and alleges delays and irregularities in recruitment processes, arguing that timely and transparent hiring could have eased joblessness among educated youth.

Welfare vs Long-Term Growth

Bista questions the effectiveness of various state-run youth allowance schemes, suggesting that financial assistance alone cannot address structural unemployment. Instead, he calls for revival of industries, diversification of the North Bengal economy, skill development initiatives, and permanent job creation.

He maintains that sustainable development in tea garden regions will require targeted policy attention, infrastructure investment, and improved coordination between the state and central governments.

A Political Message

Concluding his article, Bista asserts that Bengal’s youth deserve long-term economic stability rather than temporary relief measures. He frames the issue as a broader governance challenge and calls for transformative reforms to restore investor confidence and generate employment opportunities, especially in economically vulnerable regions like the tea belt of North Bengal. Read the full piece on News18.

(Article reference: News18 opinion by Raju Bista)