(a) the State-wise number of closed Tea
Garden in the country;
(b) whether the Government has unveiled such schemes to pay sufficient compensations to dependents of labourers of Tea Gardens;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) if not, whether the Government has adopted any policy for social and economic security of Tea Garden labourers; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a): The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has informed that presently seven tea gardens are closed in the country as per the details given below:
Sl. No. State Name of the tea estates
1 West Bengal Redbank
2 Surendra Nagar
3 Dharanipur
4 Bundapani
5 Dheklapara
6 Madhu
7 Kerala Kottamala
Contd…2/-
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(b) & (c): The Plantation Labour Act, 1951, mandates the Tea Estates to provide basic welfare services and amenities e.g. Housing, Medical, Primary Education, Water Supply/Sanitation etc. to the Tea Workers.
Apart from the above, workers of the tea industry are covered by all industrial and social security legislations like, the Workmen’s Compensation Act, the Payment of Gratuity Act, the Provident Fund & the Miscellaneous Provisions Act, (the Assam Tea Plantation Provident Fund, Pension Fund and Deposit Link Insurance Fund Scheme Act 1955 – only for the State of Assam), the Payment of Bonus Act, the Maternity Benefit Act, the Payment of Wages Act, the Equal Remuneration Act, the Industrial Disputes Act, the Factories Act and the Industrial Employment (Standing Order) Act, 1946. The respective State Governments are the Appropriate Authorities for implementation of the provisions of these Acts through their Labour Department.
The Tea Board (under the control of Ministry of Commerce & Industry) provides further support which is supplemental in nature and covers general welfare measures. Under the Human Resource Development Scheme(HRD) of the Tea Board, financial assistance is extended to the Tea Plantation workers and their dependants towards
(a) Improving the health and hygiene of workers;
(b) Education of wards of workers; and
(c) Imparting training to improve skills for growers/workers and plantation managerial staff etc.
(d) & (e): Does not arise.
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