Lok Sabha Question No. 3465 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-20
Subject: Plantation Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3465

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021

## PLANTATION LABOURERS

## 3465. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

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

- (a)whether the Government has data regarding the health indicators
- of plantation labourers in India in the last five years;
- (b)if so, the State-wise details thereof;
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  improve  the  health  and
- wellness conditions of the plantation labourers in the country;
- (d)if so, the State-wise details thereof;
- (e)whether the Government has undertaken any health related projects for labourers in the last two years; and
- (f)if so, the State-wise details of action taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) & (b): The Plantations Labour Act, 1951 regulates the conditions of plantation labour. The Act requires the employers to  make provisions for supply of wholesome drinking water, separate conservancy  for males  and  females, latrines and urinals to be maintained  in  a  clean  and  sanitary  condition,  and  readily  available medical facilities for the workers as prescribed by the State Government. In addition, the Act also  has provisions related to safety, and requires every employer to maintain health record of every worker who is exposed to insecticides, chemicals and toxic substances which are  used,  handled,  stored  or  transported  in  a  plantation.  The  Act empowers the inspector, if he thinks necessary so to do, cause any

young person employed in a plantation to be examined by a certifying surgeon.  The  Plantation  Labour  Act  is  implemented  through  the concerned  State  Governments  for  which  separate  Rules  have  been framed by them. As such, no data regarding the health indicators of plantation labourers in India is maintained centrally by this Ministry.

(c) & (d): The  Plantation  Labour  Act  has  been  subsumed  in  the Labour Code on Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020  and  Social  Security  Code,  2020.    The  Code  on  Social  Security 2020 envisages giving option to plantation owners to enroll its workers as  member  of  ESIC  (Employees  State  Insurance  Corporation).    The ESIC  provides  multiple  benefits  like  sickness  benefits,  maternity benefit etc. besides medical benefits to its members.

(e) & (f): Tea Board is implementing labour welfare measures related to health under Human Resource Development (HRD) component under the  'Tea  Development & Promotion Scheme', such as capital grants for hospitals ( not tea garden hospitals)/medical clinics adjacent to tea garden  areas  towards  extension  of  treatment  facilities  and  also  for purchase  of  medical  equipment,  accessories  and  ambulance  and reservation of beds and financial assistance for disabled persons/cancer/heart patients/kidney transplantation in specialty hospitals.

Rubber Board also implements  various labour welfare schemes  for  the  workers  in  unorganized  rubber  plantations,  which include medical reimbursement and financial assistance for delivery of women tappers.

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