Kolkata: RINA
Orao is fighting a harsh battle, which she never thought she would have to in
her life.
A worker of Dimdima tea estate
in Birpara-Madarihat block of Alipoorduar district, Rina has lost her husband
Mangal four months back. Within a month her brother-in-law died. The cause of
death is same: complete starvation. Lack of food and then absence of any
treatment has already taken more than 15 lives in this tea estate alone in the
last few months, 11 of them in September alone. This garden is owned by
Duncans, one of the biggest corporates in tea industry. The garden is supposed
to be ‘closed’ just like 16 others of the same company. Rina is trying to get
any kind of work anywhere in the world to feed her three children.
The story is same, rather more
tragic in Bagrakot in Malbazar block in Jalpaiguri. This garden has reported 25
starvation deaths in the last three months. This one is also owned by Duncans
and is formally ‘open’. However, there is no job in the garden, no wages, no
regular ration, no food, no electricity and no treatment for ailments. Some of
the workers were shifted to local hospitals in half-dying conditions and most
of them never returned.
Hundreds of tea workers in the
state are reeling under severe crisis. Starvation, extreme malnutrition and
related diseases are rampant. The situation has reached to such a point after
four and half years of neglect that the owners are allowed to loot and flee.
But starvation deaths have not occurred in privately-owned estates only, but
even in the gardens taken over by the government.
A calculation by trade unions
in the tea industry has recorded nearly 350 starvation or near-starvation
deaths of workers in this period. At least 100 of them are in the Duncan
gardens. The workers and their families have been cheated in an unprecedented
manner. Rations have either stopped or are so meagre and infrequent that a
near-famine situation is prevailing in these areas. Workers are eating very low
quality rice and leaves and roots found in the jungles. The local
administration has failed to provide alternative jobs in the rural development
projects too.
Tea garden workers are also
realising the difference between the period of Left Front government and now.
There was severe crisis in the entire tea industry during 2003 to 2007, even at
the international market. 135 tea gardens were closed in the country including
35 in West Bengal. But the then Left Front government stood firmly beside the
workers, provided the basic facilities and helped them financially. They were
provided with cash GR, minimum food, oil, salt; local panchayats used to
provide them man-days under various schemes. With consistent efforts of the
state government, in consultation with central departments, 31 closed gardens
were opened. In contrast, the TMC government has failed to open even four
gardens that they had taken over. In reality, lands of the gardens are being
taken over without any serious effort to run the gardens. That resulted in a
series of starvation deaths even in more modernised gardens. 22 tea gardens are
closed now including 16 of the biggest corporate group Duncans involving more
than 35 thousand workers. This has a catastrophic effect on local economy and
the society too. But the state administration is virtually absent now. The
administration has avoided responsibility of providing food, health support or
alternative work. Nothing has been done to provide jobs under MNREGA and
whatever minimum was done under the scheme the payment of wages are infinitely
delayed. The chief minister, a frequent visitor to northern Bengal has
carefully avoided visiting tea gardens.
Trade Unions are trying their
best to help the workers in this bitter battle. CITU leaders, including state
president Shyamal Chakraborty visited the affected areas and interacted with
workers. They have also visited hospitals, where sick tea workers are being
treated.
Joint Forum of Tea Garden
Unions has called for a three day relay hunger strike from November 27-30. This
96 hour hunger strike will be observed at 45 places in tea garden areas and
four and half lakh workers will participate in it. It will culminate in one-day
strike on December 1. Trade Unions have appealed to political parties to
support the strike and observe general strike and hartal on that day.
In a press conference in
Kolkata, trade union leaders alleged that the situation in tea gardens is
disastrous. In closed gardens, there is no ration and severe crisis of food is
taking a daily toll. There are no other alternative jobs and the state
administration is completely unmindful of the situation. Shyamal Chakraborty
alleged that even in hospitals, adequate arrangements of treatment are
unavailable. Both the centre and the state governments have a responsibility
towards these workers.
Jiaul Alam, CITU leader
alleged that the state government is showing criminal apathy towards this
problem. Representative of the state government was absent in the meeting
called by the centre.
Peoples Democracy, November 15, 2015
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