EXAMINING DEBPARA TEA ESTATE WAGE CRISIS, 2025 IN JALPAIGURI, WEST BENGAL WITH REFERENCE TO SDG 16 IN ADVANCING PEACE AND JUSTICE

This study examines the Debpara Tea Estate incident of 2025 in the Banarhat region of Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, when over a thousand plantation laborers protested due to delayed wage payments, delays in bonus payments, and the owners' failure to uphold welfare promises.By applying a political-legal lens informed by the legal frameworks under the Plantation Labour Act, 1951, and Human Rights Law, this paper presents the work and testimonies of some of the workers, showing how the law intersects with economic exploitation, legal non-compliance, and social vulnerability in the context of India's tea plantations.The study highlights the 2025 wage and bonus crisis at Debpara Tea Estate, emphasizing systemic labor exploitation and the critical role of SDG 16 in promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions.