Tea Workers-Distressed in the Organized Industry in North Bengal

Introduction The distress of tea workers ranges from subsistence wages and various deprivations to death from malnutrition and starvation. Ironically tea workers get wages through tripartite collective bargaining and various benefits under plantation legislation. Reports of about 100 starvation deaths since January 2014 in the tea gardens in the Dooars, North Bengal (plains lapping the Himalayan foothills) appeared in newspapers (TOI, 7 July 2014; Gupta B Indian Tea Association Press Release, 26, 04, 14). The issue was serious enough to be raised in Parliament [TOI, 5th August, 2014: 8), claiming 1000 starvation deaths since 2002, with media claiming closure of 28 gardens (TOI, 12/8/14).The Supreme Court appointed Special Commissioner on Right to Food, also commented on the deaths when he visited Bengal on 5th August (TOI, 6th August 2014). But do workers of other organized industries die if there are some closures or production decline? The tea industry is one of the oldest in India (first garden established in 1839) and has some problems of obsolescence and low productivity. Many employers claim non-viability. But total production of tea in India has increased from 874 million kgs in 1998 to 1200 million kgs in 2013, domestic consumption from 650 million Kgs to 926 million kgs., and average auction prices from Rs 77 to Rs 128, according to the Indian Tea Association. The emergence of thousands of small growers in North and South India also vouch for a growing market. Working and living conditions and benefits for workers in tea plantations are governed mainly by the Plantation Labor Act, 1951 (PLA), under which, tea workers are entitled housing and house maintenance, drinking water, sanitation, canteen (replaced by subsidized food grains/ rations), medical facilities and maternity leave, weekly off, paid annual leave, creche, welfare officer, recreation and educational facilities. There is disagreement over how many gardens are closed or sick (6 and 30-40, according to union leaders). The Tea Board was not unduly concerned, the Chairman remarking that "thousands, such deaths may occur"(TOI, 26th July 2014: 17). Interestingly, the welfare programs and schemes of the Tea Board (Tea Board Report, Labor Welfare: 61), do not address issues of sickness, closure, worker distress or starvation, although Rs 3.34 crores on account of defaulted dues of employers have been written off. There is controversy on the cause of deaths as well. While several NGOs, working in the area and the media term them as 'hunger deaths', the administration, over several years and even some trade unions, deny starvation. However, all admit that poor diet and malnutrition are chronic, leading to anemia, TB, diarrhea, dengue and malaria (TOI, 1 August 2014: 7). Not surprisingly, there have been several violent incidents, with workers venting their frustration on management. For instance, in March 2014, the Assistant Manager, Dalmore TE (Birpara) was hacked to death and on 22 November 2014, the owner of Sonali TE was killed (Telegraph, 23/11/14: 1). After these reports, the Government of West Bengal decided to extend MGNREGA to closed gardens, give rice and wheat at Rs 2 per kg, under the Antodyay Scheme and pay Rs 1500 monthly under the FAWLOI (Financial Assistance to Workers in Locked Out Industrial Units) scheme (TOI 17 Jul 2014, 18:11 IST). But the payments have been neither universal nor regular. Worker deaths are not confined to the last two years. Talwar (2005: 7) writes that the Dooars crisis started during 2002-04, when 22 plantations closed down, and in response to a writ petition, the Supreme Court appointed Commissioners to suggest relief measures. The then state government made special efforts to revive the gardens or find new employers, or to form Operating and Management Committees (OMCs) with members from all operating unions, for plucking and sale of green leaf, maintenance and payment of wages, as well as provide monthly payments from FAWLOI. …