A survey report on the conditions of tea garden workers of North Bengal released a week before the Lok Sabha elections provides a reflection not just on the deplorable conditions of tea garden workers but also a sad commentary on the failure of the two major contenders in this election, one of whom controls the Central Government and the other the State Government.

Groundxero | April 13, 2024

The Lok Sabha vote in the Doars is on 19th April. However, the situation of tea garden workers remains terrible. In a blistering critique of the situation, the Right to Food and Work West Bengal Campaign released its report on hunger in the tea gardens on 12th April 2024 at Siliguri and Kolkata.

On February 3rd, 2024, a hunger-related death was reported at Madhu Tea Estate in Kalchini Block, Alipurduar District, West Bengal. Dhani Oraon, a 58 years old permanent worker (PF No. WB/889/2514) from Madhu Tea Garden, reportedly died of starvation. The tragic incident served as a stark reminder of the dire circumstances faced by many tea garden workers in the region. Paschim Banga Cha Majoor Samity (PBCMS), an independent trade union representing tea garden workers, initiated a fact-finding mission to delve into the underlying causes and prevalence of hunger within North Bengal’s tea gardens.

PBCMS is affiliation with the Right to Food and Work Campaign, the primary objective of which in West Bengal is to confront the persistent challenges of food insecurity and employment instability gripping marginalized communities, particularly tea garden workers. From February 25th to 27th, 2024, a team comprising individuals with expertise in labour rights and community outreach embarked on the fact-finding mission. All the gardens chosen for the study were either closed and abandoned or sick. A total of 122 tea garden workers representing various tea gardens – Bamandanga Tea Garden, Kalchini Tea Garden, Birpara Tea Garden, Lankapara Tea Garden, Madhu Tea Garden, Nagaisuree Tea Garden and Raimatang Tea Garden – were interviewed during the fact-finding mission.

The main finding of the survey are summarized below:

• The analysis of the Body Mass Index (BMI) status among the 122 surveyed tea garden workers in North Bengal reveals a shocking picture of their nutritional health. The prevalence of thinness (BMI < 17) among 44 respondents highlights a concerning aspect of nutritional inadequacy within this population. Additionally, the presence of 20 individuals classified as underweight (BMI < 18.5) further underscores the nutritional vulnerability among tea garden workers.

• 49% of the respondents reported that more than 4 persons were currently dependent on a single ration card within their families and in some cases the numbers were as high as 13. This issue has arisen primarily because the AAY quotas have been exhausted. Post 2011, there has been no census and hence no revision of AAY quota even though rural marginalized population who suffers from hunger and food insecurity has continued to grow. 72% or 43 people with BMIs <18.5 had ration cards on which 4 or more persons depended. Among the 122 respondents surveyed, 7 individuals reported not having been issued a ration card. 6 of these were from the group with BMI<18.5, or the most vulnerable group.

• Only 8 families consume pulses on a daily basis, while 38 or 59% have dal once or twice a week and 18 or 28% only once a month. Other sources of proteins like eggs, fish and meat are consumed even more infrequently. No family has it on a daily basis. 9 or 14% consume meat etc on a weekly basis, while 44 or 69% have it in a monthly basis. 11 or 17% reported having meat, fish or eggs once in two months.

• Among the 122 respondents surveyed, 99 belong to Schedule Tribe (ST) Community. However, out this 99 eligible respondents surprisingly only 26 individuals reported possessing ST certificates. This means that about 74 % of the respondents were never issued with a certificate for their Schedule tribe status.

• 34 or 53 % of these highly malnutrition individuals are in the working age group of between 20 and 50, and 24 or 37% are between 51- 65 years of age, an age when retirement sets in, but in the case of tea garden workers, without pensions.

• The current daily rate of wage of Rs. 250 for tea garden workers is insufficient to lead a dignified life. The workers and the workers unions here, therefore, have been demanding implementation of minimum wage for a long time. Paschim Banga Cha Majoor Samity approached the High Court at Calcutta praying for implementation of minimum wages in tea industry (WPA 814/2024). On 10th April 2024 the High Court’s Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri directed the state government to pass a reasoned order on minimum wages and implement the same within 8 weeks.

• 53 families or 83% families had incomes less than 4000 rupees a month. Incidentally the statutory minimum wage for agricultural workers in West Bengal is 8104 rupees per month, which means except for one family everyone was earning less than this.

• Out of 7 Tea Gardens that were surveyed only 3 were operational. When a garden is closed, the workers heavily rely upon FAWLOI (A Scheme for financial assistance given to workers in locked out industrial unit). The financial assistance of meager Rs.1500 under this scheme is highly inadequate to even meet basic necessities of life.

The report was not planned for the Lok Sabha elections. It is by coincidence that it has been completed and was released when the Lok Sabha elections in the two constituencies from where the respondents come (Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar) are going to vote in a week’s time. The report provides a reflection not just on the conditions of tea garden workers but also a sad commentary on the failure of the two major contenders in this election, one of whom controls the Central Government and the other the State Government. Incidentally the same parties, BJP and TMC, have been in power in the Centre and the State for 10 years or more, more than sufficient time to change people’s lives.

The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to address the multifaceted challenges facing tea garden workers in North Bengal. A declaration of a decent minimum wage, making employers more accountable in obeying labor laws, efforts to improve employment opportunities and enhance access to essential services are essential for uplifting the socio-economic status and improving the well-being of this marginalized population.

The fact finding report is attached below.