More than fifty workers associated with the silk industry from different parts of Tripura staged a protest demonstration on Tuesday in front of the Sericulture Office at Indranagar, pressing for an immediate increase in wages and the restoration of their long-pending Dearness Allowance (DA). The agitation reflects growing discontent among workers who say their repeated appeals to the authorities have failed to yield any concrete results.
As part of the protest, the workers submitted a formal deputation to the Director of Sericulture, urging the state government to intervene without further delay and resolve their grievances. According to the protesters, they have held several meetings with officials over the years, but assurances given to them have remained only on paper.
Expressing frustration, one worker said that officials continue to cite procedural delays. “Every time we meet them, they say files are lying on different tables. But till today, nothing has been settled,” the worker alleged, accusing the authorities of neglecting their genuine concerns.
Highlighting the economic hardship faced by families, a woman worker said the current daily wage of Rs 230 is grossly inadequate to meet basic needs. “Is it possible to run a family with this amount?” she asked. She further recalled that during the Left Front government, workers received DA benefits that gradually increased up to Rs 7,000, but these payments were abruptly stopped in 2018. Since then, she said, workers have been struggling to cope with rising prices of essential commodities.
Another protester appealed directly to the state leadership, urging the chief minister and concerned departments to take note of their plight and fulfill the promises made to them. “We want immediate action, not assurances,” the worker said.
The protesting workers have warned that if their demands are not addressed soon, they will intensify their agitation in the coming days, signaling a prolonged struggle to secure their rights and livelihoods.
