Lok Sabha Question No. 1323 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-25
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Tea Garden Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAM PRASAD SARMAH, NABA KUMAR SARANIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1323 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2016

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR TEA GARDEN WORKERS

1323. SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH: SHRI NABA KUMAR SARANIA:

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

- (a)whether  new  welfare  schemes  have  been  formulated  and  being implemented  for  unorganised  workers  particularly  for  tea  garden workers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether tea garden workers of Assam are reportedly not getting full coverage  of  benefits  of  welfare  schemes  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c)whether the Government is considering any special scheme particularly  for  welfare  of  the  employees  of  tea  gardens  and  their children  for  their  social  and  economic  security  and  development; and

(d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Tea  garden  workers  are  organized  workers,  working  in established  tea  estates.  They  can  avail  the  benefits  of  different welfare  activities  of  Tea  Board  under  the  ongoing  Human  Resource Development  (HRD)  scheme  during  the 12th Plan period. The unorganized  workers  are  mostly  engaged  in  the  fields  of  small  tea growers.    According  to  the  Tea  Board,  for  the  welfare  of  such unorganized    workers   the   Government   has   approved Educational Contd..2/-

stipend provision for Rs.20,000.00 as tuition fees for school/technical degrees/vocational  courses  etc.  per  annum  and  Rs.  20,000.00  for hostel charges per annum under the Small Tea Growers Development Scheme  of  Tea  Board.    Further  a  Group  Insurance  Scheme  for  the benefit of unorganized workers in the event of death or any disablement  for  coverage  of  Rs.2  lakhs  with  a  nominal  premium  of Rs.14/- per person to be shared between Tea Board and the worker in the ratio of 75%:25% i.e. Rs.10.50 and Rs.3.50 respectively, has been implemented by the Tea Board.

- (b): The  welfare  activities  of  the  Tea  Board  are  applicable throughout  the  country  including  the  state  of  Assam.    The  amount disbursed  in  the  last  four  years  for  the  welfare  of  tea  plantation workers of Assam is as under:
- (c) & (d): The Government of India has approved an outlay of Rs. 100cr including Rs.50cr. for gap funding to the major tea growing states in alignment  with  the  National  Level  Welfare  Scheme  under  the  HRD component  of  Tea  Board  for  implementation  during  the  12 th   Plan period.  This scheme aims at achieving improvements in the life and living conditions of the Tea Plantation workers/wards of workers and their dependants in the following three broad areas:
- i. Improving the health and hygiene of workers;
- ii. Education of wards of workers;  and
- iii. Imparting vocational training to the wards of workers and their dependents.

| Year    |   Fund allocated under the HRD Scheme for the entire country (Rs./Cr.) |   Expenditure in Assam (Rs. in Crores) |
|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| 2012-13 |                                                                  12.78 |                                   8.78 |
| 2013-14 |                                                                   9.42 |                                   3.38 |
| 2014-15 |                                                                   4.1  |                                   1.87 |
| 2015-16 |                                                                   4.95 |                                   2.12 |
| Total   |                                                                  31.25 |                                  16.15 |

The working conditions of plantation workers are governed by the Plantation Labour Act, 1951 which provides a large number of welfare schemes for the benefit of the resident workers employed in plantations which is governed and monitored by the concerned State Government. Workers of the tea industry are covered by all industrial and social legislation like Workmen's Compensation, Act, Payment of Gratuity Act, Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provision Act, Payment of  Bonus  Act,  Maternity  Benefit  Act,  Payment  of  Wages  Act,  Equal Remuneration Act, Industrial Disputes Act, Factories Act and Industrial  Employment  (Standing  Order)  Act,  1946.  The  respective State Governments through their Labour Department are the appropriate authorities for implementation of the provisions of these Acts.

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