For a family that can barely put together two square meals a day, the Rs 22,000 in college and hostel fees seem out of reach.
For 21-year-old Supriyanesh Toppo, a second year engineering student, the price of an impasse at the tea garden in West Bengal's Bagrakote, may be an education.
With no wages since April for either of his parents who work at the tea estate, Supriyanesh has not been able to produce the fees to fund his studies at the Jalpaiguri Engineering College.
The electronics and communications student is the son of a tea-plucker and a clerk at the estate is "in distress" - which means it is not closed, not abandoned and yet not functioning.
For about 3,000 workers employed by the plant, this has meant no rations, no firewood and no wages, they claim.
"The family is tense about my fees. I have exams mid-December. I have to pay college fees by the first week. My parents are not getting wages. I don't know where fees will come from," Supriyanesh said.
For a family that can barely put together two square meals a day, the Rs 22,000 in college and hostel fees seem out of reach.
Anita, his mother, is plucking leaves with a never-before urgency. A stop gap "cash-plucking" is on at Bagrakote - workers pluck leaves and sell to "bought-leaf" factories outside for Rs 5 a kilo, say the workers. The fastest can pluck around 20 kilos a day, they say.
"We had a dream for our son. We saved and cut corners to pay his fees. With no wages, that dream is fading," Anita said.
Supriyanesh's father Silachand Toppo, a clerk, said that got Rs 3,400 as salary till April and rations, house maintenance, fire wood before one day all of it stopped without warning.
Since August, he says he is getting just Rs 100 a day. "We are facing a big crisis. Should I run the house with 100 rupees a or pay my son's fees?" he said.
The only hopes for his son are government scholarship he had won last year to which he has applied once again and his friends and teachers at the college.
"The general secretary and the training and placement sir phoned and many people called and said don't worry, we will help. So I hope the problem will be solved," said Supriyanesh.
You can help by reaching out to Supriyanesh's father Silachand Toppo at 91-9002189009Note: This information has been provided/published on a good faith basis, without any commercial motive. NDTV does not vouch for the authenticity of the claims made by the intending donee, nor can we guarantee that the donations made by a donor will be used for the purpose as stated by the intending donee. You are requested to independently verify the contact information and other details before making a donation. NDTV and/or its employees will not be responsible for the same.