Question : Closure of Tea Garden

(a) whether the Government is aware of repeated instances of tea garden owners abandoning their gardens without any notice to the workers or to the Government and if so, the details and reasons therefor;
(b) whether any tea garden owner till date has been held accountable for abandoning their gardens and putting to jeopardy the lives of thousands of workers and their families and if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether it is a fact that Dhumsipara tea gardens have closed down; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government/Tea Board to help the tea garden workers, who lost their livelihood due to the closure of the said tea garden?

THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) & (b): There are instances of abandonment of tea gardens by the tea garden owners. The main reasons for abandonment/lock out of tea gardens may be attributed to poor yield of the estates, ageing bush profile, lack of development perspective, poor garden management practices, highly debt oriented funding strategy, ownership disputes etc. The suspension of work, lock-out or abandonment of any industrial establishment including tea plantation is covered under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1948 and the settlement of the disputes, if any, is done through conciliation, arbitration and adjudication proceedings.

(c) & (d): The garden management of Dumchipara Tea Garden, belonging to M/s. Duncans Industries Ltd. abandoned the garden on 21st of June, 2019 due to labour unrest owing to non-payment of wages and salaries to workers. The officials of the Tea Board discussed the matter with the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Birpara, on 25th June, 2019 who is the appropriate authority in the matter. The garden has been re-opened on 2nd July, 2019 after making the payment of outstanding wages, for two fortnights on 1st July 2019.


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