Lok Sabha Question No. 585 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Plantation Labour
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Ravindra Kushawaha

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 585 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## PLANTATION LABOUR

585.  ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  the  details  of  the  plantations  that have  closed  down  or  is  under  financial  stress  in  Kerala  including Idukki, if so, the details thereof during the last ten years;
- (b)whether  the  Government  reopen  the  closed  down  plantations including tea plantations for helping the plantation labour in Kerala, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)whether  the  Government  allocate  a  Package  to  save  the  tea plantation  sector  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor;
- (d)the details  of  the  provisions  made  to  ensure  the  welfare  of plantation labourers/workers under the Central Wage Board;
- (e)whether Central Wage Board has revised its policies/decisions from time to time and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)whether  wages  are  not  revised  to  meet  the  requirement  of  the changing needs of the labourers and if so, the reasons therefor and the reaction of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) & (b): As per Tea Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, the following Tea Estates(T.E.) are presently closed in the State of Kerala including Idukki:
- (i)
- (ii)
- (iii)
- Peermade & Lonetree T.E., Idukki, Kerala
- Kottamala & Bonami T.E., Idukki, Kerala
- Bonnacord T.E., Trivandrum, Kerala

The status of closed down tea gardens in Kerala along their current  status  is  at  Annexure.  There  is  no  proposal  to  identify plantations  which  have  been  closed  down  in  respect  of  Rubber  & Coffee plantations.

- (c): With  an  outlay  of  Rs.  967.78  crore,  Tea  Development  & Promotion  Scheme  is  implemented  through  Tea  Board  for  the  15 th Finance Commission (2021-22 to 2025-26) for holistic development of the tea industry.
- (d) & (e): Welfare  measures for  plantation  workers  are  implemented by  concerned  State  Government  in  line  with  the  provisions  of  The Plantation  Labour  Act,  1951.  At  present,  there  is  no  wage  board  in existence for plantation sector.
- (f): The  wage  revision  takes  place  by  tripartite  agreement through the process of collective bargaining.

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## Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  &  (b)  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  for 06.02.2023

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Tea Estates   | State   | District   | Date of Closure   | Current status                                                 |
|-----------|---------------------------|---------|------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Kottamala &Bonami         | Kerala  | Idukki     | October, 2002     | Reopened on 11.06.2007 Again closed on 23.12.2013/ 11.10.2014. |
|         2 | Vagamon                   | Kerala  | Idukki     | 09.06.2002        | Functional                                                     |
|         3 | Mungyamullai              | Kerala  | Idukki     | 09.01.2005        | Functional                                                     |
|         4 | Thengakal                 | Kerala  | Idukki     | 10.01.2005        | Functional                                                     |
|         5 | Pambanar                  | Kerala  | Idukki     | 09.01.2005        | Functional                                                     |
|         6 | Koliekanam                | Kerala  | Idukki     | January, 2000     | Functional                                                     |
|         7 | Pasumullai                | Kerala  | Idukki     | January, 2002     | Functional                                                     |
|         8 | Granby                    | Kerala  | Idukki     | 31.01.2002        | Functional                                                     |
|         9 | Mount                     | Kerala  | Idukki     | 13.10.2000        | Functional                                                     |
|        10 | Tungmullay                | Kerala  | Idukki     | January, 2002     | Functional                                                     |
|        11 | Nellikai                  | Kerala  | Idukki     | 11.01.2005        | Functional                                                     |
|        12 | Bonaccord                 | Kerala  | Trivandum  | 11.04.2007        | Reopened on 03.12.2007 Again closed on 05.03.2015.             |
|        13 | Methanathu                | Kerala  | Idukki     | 12.11.2001        | Functional                                                     |
|        14 | Vengakotta                | Kerala  | Wayanad    | 06.10.2004        | Functional                                                     |
|        15 | Peermade& Lonetree        | Kerala  | Idukki     | 01.04.2016        | Closed                                                         |

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