The Valparai unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to address the long-standing issues faced by residents and tea estate workers in the hill town. The party alleges that Valparai has been overlooked for significant development initiatives, even after the current government completed its initial 100 days in office. No minister has visited the region during this period, suggesting it remains outside the government’s development priorities.
Central to the CPM’s appeal is the demand for a revision of wages for tea estate workers. This demand stems from persistent concerns regarding remuneration and working conditions within the plantation sector in Valparai. The CPM Valparai taluk secretary, P. Paramasivam, stated that the previous government had proposed a daily wage of ₹510. However, this was challenged by estate owners and subsequently fixed at ₹445 per day. Paramasivam argued that this wage is insufficient for workers to meet their family’s basic needs, leading to a migration of workers to Coimbatore and Tirupur in search of better employment opportunities.
The CPM is advocating for a fresh wage revision to be conducted through the appropriate statutory and consultative processes. It was noted that the previous wage revision took place in 2023 during the DMK administration. Beyond wages, the party has also called for increased attention to infrastructure and essential services in the remote hill region. Paramasivam highlighted deficiencies in roads and healthcare facilities in Valparai. Furthermore, the CPM urged the government to implement free housing schemes specifically for tea estate workers.
Valparai is home to approximately 15,000 tea estate workers. The concerns raised by the CPM echo historical issues surrounding wage disparities and working conditions. Reports from December 2022 indicated that over 500 workers in the Cinchona Lawson Tea Division were awaiting a wage revision from ₹345 to ₹425.40 per shift, a hike that was announced by the State in July 2021 but remained unfulfilled for nearly 18 months. Workers were reported to be in debt, necessitating the payment of increased salaries along with the due arrears. In October 2025, tea estate workers in Valparai Hills were set to receive a wage of ₹475 per shift, an increase of ₹50 from the rates applicable since 2021. This was the outcome of wage talks between tea estate managements and trade unions, with the last wage agreement having expired in June 2025.
Historically, wage discussions in Valparai have seen comparisons with neighboring Kerala. In October 2020, the CPM had pointed out that workers in Tamil Nadu were receiving ₹333 per day, while their counterparts in Kerala earned ₹403 per day. The party also raised concerns about salary disbursement methods, noting that in Valparai, salaries were deposited directly into bank accounts, leading workers to lose a day’s pay and incur transport costs to withdraw their earnings, unlike in Kerala where salaries were disbursed at the estate itself. Issues related to bonus payouts and housing for retired workers have also been raised in the past. The CPM petition in 2020 also included demands for upgrading the Valparai government hospital to handle cardiac and basic trauma cases.
The current appeal by the CPM underscores the ongoing challenges faced by tea estate workers in Valparai, focusing on the urgent need for wage revision, improved infrastructure, and social welfare measures. The party’s representation to the Chief Minister highlights a perceived neglect of the region and seeks proactive government intervention to uplift the living standards of its residents and plantation workers.
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The Chenab Times News Desk