Lok Sabha Question No. 1315 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: Welfare of Tea Garden Workers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Md. Rakibul Hussain

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1315

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## WELFARE OF TEA GARDEN WORKERS

1315. Md. Rakibul Hussain: Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any plan to improve the welfare, working conditions and wages of tea garden workers in Assam and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the initiatives taken by the Government to tackle the shortage of skilled labour in Assam's tea estates through education and training programmes; and

(c)  whether  there  are  any  Government  welfare  schemes  for  the  benefit  of  the  tea garden workers and their families in healthcare, housing and education and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): The working conditions of the plantation workers, including tea plantations of North Bengal region, are governed and monitored by the Plantations Labour Act, 1951, through the concerned State Governments, for which separate Rules are framed by  them.  The  said  Act  aims  to  create  a  framework  that  ensures  fair  and  humane conditions of work, promotes the welfare of plantation workers and their families viz. housing, medical and primary education, water supply, sanitation etc.

Besides, the Central Government, through the Tea Board implements various welfare activities for tea plantation workers and their dependents in the area of health, hygiene, training and education.

The Government of Assam, in collaboration with the Central Government, has undertaken several initiatives to address the shortage of skilled labour in Assam's tea estates through education and training programs. These initiatives focus on enhancing the  skill  set  of  tea  estate  workers,  improving  employability,  and  ensuring  the sustainability of the tea industry.

Under  Assam  Skill  Development  Mission  (ASDM)  specialized  training  is provided in tea cultivation, plucking, pruning, pest management, and mechanization. The Government  has  also upgraded Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and established  Skill  Development  Centres  in  tea-growing  regions  to  offer  courses  in plantation management, food processing, and agro-based industries. The Tea Board of India, in partnership with the Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI), conducts skillbuilding workshops and certification programs for tea estate workers.

Further, the Assam Government also provides scholarships and financial aid to children  of  tea  estate  workers  to  ensure  better  access  to  education  and  skill enhancement. The Tea Tribes Welfare Department of State Government runs various programs focused on education, vocational training, and self-employment opportunities for tea estate workers and their families. Programs like SVAYEM (Swami Vivekananda  Assam  Youth  Empowerment  Scheme)  encourage  entrepreneurship among tea estate workers.

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