Lok Sabha Question No. 1003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-08
Subject: Plantations of Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Anto  Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1003 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2021

## PLANTATIONS OF WORKERS

## 1003. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

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

- (a)whether it has come to the notice of the Government that labourers in the rubber,  tea  and  coffee  plantations  are  leading  a  miserable  life  due  to  the collapse of price of produce and mismanagement of plantations and lack of
- Government support;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  the  Government  proposes  to  identify  the  rubber,  tea  and  coffee plantations  which  have  been  closed  down  and  which  are  functioning nominally so as to mitigate the hardships of plantation labourers; and
- (d)if so, the details and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) & (b): The Government has not received any such representation from  the trade unions or individual workers of the plantation sector i.e. tea, coffee and rubber.
- In respect of tea, the plantation workers are paid wages as per the negotiated agreement between the producer associations and workers unions under the aegis of the respective State Government.
- (c) & (d): In respect of Tea, there are 1569 tea gardens in   the country and at present only 16 tea gardens are closed in the country and   rest are functioning. The details of closed tea gardens along with current status is annexed.  In case of  closed  Tea  Gardens,  the  Government  of  India  through  Tea  Board  has  been implementing 'Tea Development & Promotion Scheme' during the Medium Term Framework period (2017-20), which has been extended upto 31.03.2021.  Under this  scheme,  Rs.4000  are  disbursed  to  the  wards  of  workers  of  closed  tea gardens as book & uniform grant.  There is no proposal to identify plantations which have been closed down in respect of Rubber & Coffee Plantations.

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ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  &  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1003. FOR 08.02.2021. REGARDING PLANTATIONS OF WORKERS.

| Updated status of closed tea gardens in the country   | Updated status of closed tea gardens in the country   | Updated status of closed tea gardens in the country   | Updated status of closed tea gardens in the country   | Updated status of closed tea gardens in the country   |
|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                               | State                                                 | Name of the T.E.                                      | Area under Tea (Ha)                                   | Date of Closure                                       |
| 1 2 3 4 5                                             | West Bengal                                           | Panighata                                             | 460.15                                                | 10.10.2015                                            |
|                                                       | West Bengal                                           | Dheklapara                                            | 197.00                                                | 11.03.2006                                            |
|                                                       | West Bengal                                           | Bundapani                                             | 530.00                                                | 13.07.2013                                            |
|                                                       | West Bengal                                           | Dharanipur                                            | 265.00                                                | 21.10.2013                                            |
|                                                       | West Bengal                                           | Redbank                                               | 369.00                                                | 19.10.2013                                            |
| 6                                                     | West Bengal                                           | Surendranagar                                         | 172.00                                                | 19.10.2013                                            |
| 7                                                     | West Bengal                                           | Madhu                                                 | 323.00                                                | 23.09.2014                                            |
| 8                                                     | West Bengal                                           | Birpara                                               | 1004.38                                               | 23.10.2019                                            |
| 9                                                     | West Bengal                                           | Lankapara                                             | 758.45                                                | 16E Notified on 28.01.2016                            |
| 10                                                    | West Bengal                                           | Toorsa                                                | 482.30                                                | 20.10.2019                                            |
| 11                                                    | West Bengal                                           | Dooteriah T E                                         | 444.92                                                | 09-06-19                                              |
| 12                                                    | West Bengal                                           | Kalej Valley                                          | 235.56                                                | 09-06-19                                              |
| 13                                                    | West Bengal                                           | Peshok                                                | 314.70                                                | 09-06-19                                              |
| 14                                                    | Kerala                                                | Peermade&Lonetree                                     | 679.79                                                | 01.04.2016                                            |
| 15                                                    | Kerala                                                | Kottamala &Bonami T.E                                 | 677.51                                                | 23.12.2013/ 11.10.2014                                |
| 16                                                    | Kerala                                                | Bonnacord                                             | 378.00                                                | 05.03.2015                                            |
|                                                       | Kerala                                                | Total                                                 | 6831.61                                               |                                                       |

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