December 6, 2023
Samirul Islam’s Special Mention in the Rajya Sabha on the need to address the condition of the tea plantation workers in north Bengal
Hon. Shri Samirul Islam, ‘Need to address the conditions of Tea Plantation Workers in West Bengal’. Respected Sir, there are around 300 tea estates across Darjeeling, Alipurduar, Kurseong and Jalpaiguri. More than 3 lakh labourers work in nearly 400 tea gardens in North Bengal, and none of them has land rights on estates where they have been living for generations. The Union Government is responsible for securing better working conditions for the workers. It has the authority to take over the management of a tea company which fails to comply with the Tea Act, 1953. The West Bengal Government is proactively acting against organisations which are not paying Provident Fund and Gratuity. Under Cha Sundari Scheme, the Bengal Government is building over 4,000 homes for tea garden workers. We have already finished construction of 1200 houses. On the other hand, Tea estates in other parts of the country such as Assam need urgent attention of the Union Government. There is no provision of ensuring or giving them their due Provident Fund by the Union Government. Moreover, there are no scholarships and stipends promised to tea garden workers’ children. There is a dire need to address the conditions of tea plantation workers. I urge the Government to discuss the same and work towards ensuring better working conditions for tea workers to promote the industry. Thank you, Sir.
