Question : PROBLEMS OF TEA GARDEN WORKERS

(a) whether the Government has taken note of malnutrition/starvation deaths of tea garden workers in various parts of the country, particularly in Tea gardens of Darjeeling and other parts of West Bengal in the recent past;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of incidents reported in this regard and the reasons for such deaths;

(c) the action taken by the Government in the matter; and

(d) the measures taken by the Government to solve such problems and save the garden workers from malnutrition and starvation?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a), (b) & (c): No information about malnutrition/starvation death of tea workers has been received.

(d): 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. Subsidised foodgrains, fuelwood and electricity is provided to workers under separate tripartite agreement entered into between industry, workers unions and the State Government. The Tea Board provides additional support under Human Resource Development Scheme (HRD) for improving health and hygiene of workers, education of wards of workers and imparting training to improve skills of growers/workers.

Actions to ensure payment of wages to workers as per law and provide benefits under other programmes of the Government have been taken. Relief is available to workers in form of health protection measures, Antyodaya Anna Yojna and employment guarantee under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act, 2005.