Lok Sabha Question No. 1219 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Tea Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1219 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## TEA WORKERS

1219. SHRI SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)the total number of tea workers in the country at present;
- (b)the details of different State and Central level Insurance Schemes for  tea  workers  in  the  organised  sector  and  unorganised  sector
- across the country;
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  specific  scheme  for such workers;
- (d)if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  welfare  of  tea workers in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a): The total number of tea plantation workers in the country is  1131942  (726247  permanent  and  405695  temporary  workers)  at present.
- (b): There is no specific Insurance Scheme meant for workers at small tea gardens under implementation by the Tea Board.   However,  a  Group  Personal  Accident  Insurance  Scheme  is being implemented by the Tea Board for the benefit of the workers of small  tea  growers.  Out  of  total  premium  of  Rs.72/  -per  worker,  a nominal premium of Rs.3.50 is the contribution of the worker and the balance  Rs.68.50  is  borne  by  Tea  Board. Besides,  tea  workers  in Assam are covered under the Assam Tea Plantations Provident Fund and  Pension  Fund  and  Deposit  Linked  Insurance  Scheme  Act,  1955 within the scope of the Act. Tea workers of organized sector in other states  are  covered  under  the  Employees'  Deposit-Link  Insurance Scheme,  1976  of  the  Employees'  Provident  Funds  &  Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.

(c) & (d): With the objective of protecting the small tea growers, upto 10.00 hectare, from the twin risks of weather and prices resulting in loss of income / sustainability and for stabilizing income, the Government  has  approved  implementation  of  a  Revenue  Insurance Scheme  for  Plantation  Crop  (RISPC)  on  pilot  basis  spread  over  two years commencing from 2016-17 & 2017-18 in three selected districts of three States viz. Golaghat (Assam), Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) and the Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu).

(e): The Plantation Labour Act, 1951 mandates the tea estates to provide basic welfare services and amenities viz.  housing, medical and  primary  education,  water  supply,  sanitation  etc.  to  the  tea workers.   Moreover, the workers of the tea industry are covered by all social  security  legislations  like  the  Employees'  Compensation  Act 1923,  the  Payment  of  Gratuity  Act,  1972,  the  Employees'  Provident Funds  &  Miscellaneous  Provisions  Act,  1952,  the  Payment  of  Bonus Act, 1965, the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, the Payment of Wages Act, 1936,  the  Equal  Remuneration  Act,  1976,  the  Assam  Tea  Plantation Provident  Fund  and  Pension  Fund  and  Deposit  Link  Insurance  Fund Scheme Act, 1955 - only for Assam.

Besides,  the  Government  implements  through  the  Tea Board  various  welfare  activities  for  tea  plantation  workers  and  their dependents  in  tea  estates.  The  welfare  activities  undertaken  by  the Tea Board under the Human Resource Development (HRD) Scheme aim at improving the health and hygiene of workers, education of wards of workers and imparting training to improve skills for growers/workers.

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