A
strange situation has arisen in North Bengal — 15 tea estates owned by one the
premier companies in tea, Duncans Industries Private Limited, are in a state of
limbo. They are neither closed nor open in the usual sense of the terms, with
frightening consequences for the workers on the estates. This situation has
added one more chapter to the shameful history of hunger in the tea industry. A
report on the situation there entitled “Ignoring Hunger:Report on the Situation
In Duncans Tea Estates in North Bengal” is being released for the public.
Earlier on September 8, 2015, the Special Commissioner of
the Supreme Court on Right to Food after visiting the gardens wrote to the
Chief Secretary, West Bengal Government, asking for immediate steps for relief
to the workers. He wrote that “the illegal and undeclared stoppage of wage
payments and ration payments in the Duncan gardens has resulted in enormous
food distress and livelihood distress, as well as considerable hardship to the
workers and their families.” So far, we are not aware of any effective
response by the West Bengal Government.
The report shows that closure (or semi-closure) of
Duncans’ estates in North Bengal is becoming a humanitarian crisis of vast
proportions. Over 75,000 people have been affected. Two cases of deaths
probably due to hunger were also found during the study. Immediate
measures need to be taken by the State Government. There has been drastic
decline in earnings and consequent severe deterioration in diets. If we add to
this the crisis in drinking water in the estates, along with the total collapse
of medical care, we seem near a disaster situation.
The State Government has played a negative role in this
crisis by ignoring several important lapses by the Duncans management, such as
non-renewal of leases to the garden land, non-payment of dues and rations to
workers, not depositing Provident Fund money etc. It has in fact turned a blind
eye to several illegal acts of the management.
With no realistic plan being put forward by the management
to re-open the gardens, the State Government must step in with short term
relief measures, which it is obliged to do under the Supreme Court orders on
the Right to Food such as an immediate distribution of GR, followed by regular
distribution of rations; opening of MGNREGA works and immediate clearing of all
due wages under the MGNREGA; extension of medical facilities through
mobile medical camps; ensuring safe drinking water supply for the workers etc.
The State Government must also take measures to ensure
that the management immediately opens the gardens and runs them properly. In
the absence of such initiative by the management, it must begin the search for
new owners, after cancelling leases where necessary. It must also ensure that
the dues of the workers are paid by the management so that workers do not have
to suffer because of the callousness of the employer.
For Right to Food and Work Campaign, West Bengal
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