Kolkata, 11th March, 2025: North Bengal’s tea industry, a key economic driver for the region, faces a growing energy crisis, affecting thousands of small tea growers and tea garden workers. Frequent power outages, unreliable irrigation, and limited access to renewable energy solutions threaten both productivity and livelihoods. In Jalpaiguri alone, 76% of tea growers experience power cuts lasting 1-2 hours daily, while 39% lack adequate lighting, increasing safety risks. Moreover, 87.5% of tea estates view solar energy as a viable solution, yet awareness and adoption remain low.
SwitchON Foundation has been actively working in Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling, districts of North Bengal. SwitchON facilitates skill development, awareness campaigns, and policy advocacy to create a long-term sustainable ecosystem for energy security.
To address these pressing challenges, SwitchON Foundation convened a high-level Roundtable on Promoting Energy Security in Tea Gardens at the Move for Earth Symposium 2025 in Kolkata. The discussion brought together key industry leaders and policymakers to explore decentralized renewable energy (DRE) solutions, improved irrigation, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for tea communities.
The roundtable featured distinguished speakers, including Mr. Subhasis Mukherjee, Secretary of the Dooars Branch of the Indian Tea Association; Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty, President of the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Association (CISTA); Ayan Kumar Panchali, Executive Director of Youngton Tea Estate; Mr. P.K. Bhattacharya, Secretary General of the Tea Association of India; Mr. Sandip Ghosh, Secretary (Sustainability) of the Indian Tea Association (ITA); and Mr. Gangan Boriah, Senior Advisor at the Tea Solidaridad Network. These experts provided critical insights on the energy challenges faced by tea gardens and discussed potential solutions for ensuring energy security in the sector.
“The tea sector needs urgent energy interventions to remain viable. Through this roundtable, we aim to catalyze industry-wide collaboration and drive policy reforms that ensure energy security for tea gardens,” said Member, SwitchON Foundation.
At the event, SwitchON Foundation released reports on Energy Access and Sustainable Livelihoods in North Bengal: Challenges & Opportunities for Tea Garden Communities, Ensuring Better Energy Security in Tea Gardens of North Bengal and Baseline Report: Ensuring Energy Security in Tea Gardens. These reports provide key insights into the region’s energy crisis and propose sustainable interventions, including the integration of solar-powered irrigation, decentralized microgrids, and clean cooking solutions
“Small tea growers are the backbone of the tea industry, yet they continue to struggle with energy access. The adoption of decentralized renewable energy solutions is crucial for reducing costs and ensuring long-term sustainability,” said Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty, President, CISTA.
The Move for Earth Symposium created a dynamic platform for the exchange of ideas through a series of engaging roundtable discussions and hands-on workshops, reinforcing the spirit of collaboration and innovation across diverse sectors.
The Move for Earth Symposium is an annual flagship event organized by SwitchON Foundation, serving as a transformative platform that brings together leaders, policymakers, non-profits, investors, academia, and grassroots communities to drive meaningful discussions and collective action for a sustainable future.
For more information please contact Gargi Maitra 8336919233
0 
0 
