Jaigaon Congregations Collect Rice for Unemployed Tea Gardeners

In December 2010, Mujnai Tea Garden in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal closed indefinitely. The main reason for closing down was minimal growth of the tea leaves so that the manager could not afford to pay the garden’s hundreds of laborers.

This left the laborers in a dire situation. Even what they could manage to earn in daily wages elsewhere was insufficient to feed their families.

In February 2011, a group of Believers Church Jaigaon staff read about the tea garden in the local Nepali newspaper, Himalaya Darpan. They immediately went to Mujnai to see how they could help. On that day, they met Mini Oraon and her family. Mini was one of the unemployed tea garden laborers. Her husband had recently died, and out of helplessness, she was ready to sell her youngest son to conduct her husband’s funeral.

When the staff returned, Believers Church Jaigaon discussed the desperate need of Mujnai’s people and decided to collect rice from each local church and distribute it to the needy families. The diocese circulated this message to the local churches, which collected rice without hesitation.

The Minor Seminary staff and families also generously donated rice. The Minor Seminary students even gave up a meal so they could donate food to the starving tea garden workers. Through these means, the diocese collected 2,000 kilograms of rice.

On 1st March 2011, Believers Church arranged a distribution program in Mujnai with the help of the Gram Panchayat Pradhan, Mrs. Kali Lohar. They distributed rice freely for 150 families, with each family receiving 15 kilograms of rice. After the distribution, the recipients were all happy and smiling. Mrs. Kali Lohar expressed her hearty gratitude on behalf of the villagers.

On villager, Pokli Munda, said, “In two days we earn Rs. 50. I have children. This money is not enough for our daily survival. My husband and me are eating only one meal in the evening.” She began to cry, and then added, “With 15 kilograms of rice we can take care of our family for two weeks. We are very much thankful to Believers Church for their help. Today Believers Church has done a very good work for the community in Mujnai Tea Garden.”

This incident demonstrates the heart of Believers Church—from leaders to local church members—to provide relief and support to surrounding communities.