Annual Run to Popularize State Tea. Minister Santana Chakma Flags Off ‘Run for Tea’ in Agartala
Agartala, Dec 17: The Tripura Tea Development Corporation on Tuesday organised the Run for Tea 2025 event, continuing its annual tradition aimed at promoting the state’s tea industry. The event, held with the support of the Tea Board of India, was formally flagged off by Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma.
Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy, Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumder, Tripura Tea Development Corporation Chairman Samiranjan Ghosh, and other dignitaries were also present at the occasion.
The event featured competitions in both men’s and women’s categories, attracting participation from over a hundred runners. Prizes were awarded to the first, second, and third position holders in each category at the conclusion of the race.
Officials said the ‘Run for Tea’ initiative is organised every year to support the growth of Tripura’s tea industry and to increase the visibility, acceptance, and popularity of Tripura Tea.
The event also aims to encourage sportspersons from across the state to participate in fitness and awareness-driven activities.
Background of Tripura Tea Industry:
Tripura’s tea industry began during British rule when Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya initiated tea plantations to utilise uncultivated land. The state’s first tea garden, Hirachhara Tea Estate in Kailashahar, was established in 1916. Today, Tripura has 54 large tea estates covering about 12,800 hectares, along with several small gardens.
The industry suffered major setbacks after Independence due to extremist violence in the 1980s, which severely disrupted tea estates. Although militancy later declined, a fresh crisis emerged in the early 2000s when chit fund companies illegally took over several gardens, leading to closures, disputes, and large-scale job losses. Widespread mismanagement and administrative failures further weakened the sector.
For nearly seven decades under successive governments, tea workers’ daily wages remained at ₹105. Following a change in government in 2018, wages were revised upward, with the current daily wage standing at ₹204.
