Assam: Child labour allegations surface at private tea factory in Udalguri’s Bamunjuli

Serious allegations of child labour have emerged from Bamunjuli under Bhergaon, where owners of certain private tea factories are accused of violating child protection laws with complete disregard for legal norms. The incident has sparked widespread concern among residents and rights groups.

Reports indicate that children aged just 13 to 14 were being employed at the Bamunjuli Tea Industry Private Limited factory. These minors were allegedly made to work 12-hour shifts for a meagre payment of ₹500, raising strong objections from child rights activists.

Despite strict state laws and regular awareness campaigns aimed at preventing child labour, some tea factory owners continue to ignore these rules. This recent case from Dimakuchi’s Bamunjuli has once again highlighted the persistence of this illegal practice.

The issue came to light after the Udalguri District Adivasi Students’ Association, supported by its Dimakuchi and Bamunjuli regional committees, conducted a surprise inspection at the tea factory. During the raid, the organisation rescued around five child labourers who were allegedly being employed secretly for a long period.

Following the operation, the student body confronted the factory authorities. Local residents and association members also accused certain non-Assamese individuals of running such businesses and luring local children into labour with small monetary offers, which they claim is harmful to the community’s future.

The Udalguri district committee of the Adivasi Students’ Association has issued a stern warning to factory owner Rajesh Jalan and director Arjit Das, urging them to stop such illegal practices immediately. The rescued children were later handed over to the Udalguri District Child Protection Unit with assistance from Dimakuchi Police.

Local citizens further allege that this is not an isolated case, claiming that multiple private tea factories in Udalguri district continue to employ child labour despite existing laws and awareness efforts. Authorities are expected to investigate the matter further in the coming days.

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