Tea Board largesse for gardens

Nagrakata (Jalpaiguri), Feb. 10: The Tea Board of India has decided to extend some additional financial help to the sector.

At the 37th annual general meeting of the North Bengal branch of the tea Association of India (TAI) held at Nagrakata Club here yesterday, Roshni Sen, deputy chairperson of the board, said both small and large scale tea growers could obtain government subsidies for different development schemes.

“To avail of subsidies, it is essential that schemes are planned properly,” Sen said in her speech. She said assistance would be under the 11th Five Year Plan and would not be a part of the SPTF (special purpose tea fund) for rejuvenation and re-plantation of tea bushes.

The financial help, Sen said, includes 25 per cent subsidies on drainage, purchase of vehicles, and sanitation and drinking water schemes. “Improvement of drainage system in tea gardens is a key area to be taken care of,” she said.

Once the schemes are approved, up to 25 per cent of the total project cost will be subsidised by the board. The deputy chairperson assured the meeting that funds under SPTF would be disbursed soon. Under this scheme, a 25 percent subsidy will be given on the vehicles used to carry away and dump uprooted bushes and bring tea saplings.

If small tea growers set up mini factories, the Board will dole out 50 per cent subsidy for buying machines.

At the meeting, office-bearers of the TAI presented data that showed that the production and export of tea had fallen last year.

The total tea production registered in 2007 was 945 million kg as against 956 million kg in 2006. While 219 million kg tea was exported in 2006, only 157 million kg was sold overseas in 2007. The import, however, was only 15 million kg last year compared to 24 million kg in 2006.

Reacting to the demand by the TAI officials that branding of tea produced in the Terai and Dooars — that accounted for 25 per cent of the total production in India — should be branded to boost trade, Sen said a logo was being created for the produce in the region. She, however, added that several legal issues were to be tackled before getting the logo registered. She hoped that the task would be accomplished by the end of this year.

Sen also said an electronic auction system would be launched in Calcutta. “If the system there is successful, it will be replicated at all other auction centres in India.”

Mamta has to act fast to gain tea workers confidence

Mamata Banerjee’s visit to the Dooars has not gone unnoticed, but neither has it been able to trigger any enthusiasm.

A day after her tour of two closed estates, tea workers feel that the Trinamul Congress chief has to deliver first, in the manner of some major breakthroughs, to win their confidence.

“We have become accustomed to false promises from leaders. Unless her party succeeds in establishing an efficient platform that would work towards reopening the gardens, it will be tough for it to garner support here,” said Phanindranath Das, a worker of Sikarpur-Bhandapur, 30 km from here. Mamata had visited the garden yesterday.

He added that in no way would workers of his garden follow the lines of Singur and Nandigram. The reference was to Mamata’s announcement that her party would launch a movement similar to the ones in south Bengal against land acquisition.

Das agreed with Sania Bhumij, a worker and unit secretary of the Citu-affiliated Cha Bagan Mazdoor Union of Raipur, that actor turned Trinamul MLA Tapas Pal had been the real crowd puller.

“It is true that hundreds of residents, especially women, had rushed to the dais. But their intention was to see Tapas Pal. He is well-known here,” said Bhumij, one of those who had elaborated their problems before Mamata yesterday. Bhumij, however, said she and many other workers would not mind joining any movement that might benefit them. “In case a central agitation is organised and it is useful to us, we would definitely participate,” she said.

Others like Biplab Sarkar of Bharnobari, which is likely to open on June 29, said the Trinamul leader’s visit has been a “little too late”.

“She has taken up the issue five years after the crisis started, at a time when the Centre and state are seriously working to end the impasse,” said Sarkar.

He said another factor that would make the party’s task harder was the absence of any Trinamul trade union in the tea belt. Trinamul leaders of the region admitted that they had a number of hurdles ahead.

“It is true that we need to take up concrete activities in the closed gardens to bring people under the banner of the Save Tea Garden Committee,” said Gautam Deb, the Darjeeling district president of the party. Deb has been made chairman of a 15-member core group that will give regular reports to Mamata on the tea gardens.

“We will meet in Cooch Behar on June 24 to chalk out our strategy,” he added.

Source: The Telegraph

Tea workers change tea gardens

Over 100 permanent workers of Redbank Tea Estate in Banarhat, Jalpaiguri, have joined the adjacent garden of Surendranagar as casual labourers, sparking a row between Citu and Intuc-affiliated unions.

The workers come from Salboni, a division of the Redbank tea estate with 150 hectares of plantation. This morning, an altercation broke out between the two unions when members of the Citu-affiliated operations and maintenance committee (OMC) of Redbank went to the Salboni division to dissuade the labourers from going over to Surendranagar.

“When we went there, a few toughs, whom we suspect to be accomplices of the owner of Surendranagar, threatened us,” said Debabrata Pal, a member of the OMC. “We protested but turned back to avoid any law and order problem. We consider this to be a plot by the owner to create a rift among Redbank workers.”

Both the gardens are owned by Rabin Paul. But while Paul has regained control of Surendranagar after almost four years, Redbank is still run by an OMC. Redbank has gone into liquidation from March 28 this year and the OMC members put the blame for the situation on the “irresponsible attitude” of Paul towards the garden.

Leaders of the Intuc-affiliated National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW), which enjoys the support of the workers of Surendranagar, said labourers are increasingly preferring them over the Citu. “Of the 113 permanent workers of Salboni, more than 100 are with us now,” said Pradip Mullick of NUPW. “Instead of plucking tealeaves and handing them over to the Citu-dominated OMC at Redbank, they prefer to work as casual workers at Surendranagar.”

In total, there are over 800 workers at Redbank.

The NUPW leader also claimed that it was Citu supporters who had tried to create trouble this morning. “But the workers thwarted their ploy,” Mullick said.

The workers in question said they had switched gardens on their own. “We used to get around Rs 15 to Rs 20 per day from the OMC for plucking tealeaves at Salboni, but at Surendranagar we are earning Rs 53.90 every day even as casual labourers,” said one of those who have crossed over.

Source: The Telegraph

Leopard found dead in tea garden

Siliguri: The body of a full-grown male leopard was found in a tea garden here today.

Environmentalists, who suspect that the animal was poisoned, have demanded a probe into the death, the cause of which is yet to be ascertained. Forest officials, too, have not ruled out foul play.

“We cannot say anything until the post-mortem report reaches us. However, we are not denying anything either,” said P.T Bhutia, the conservator of forests (wildlife), north Bengal.

The carcass was discovered early this morning by some workers of Fulbari-Patan tea estate in Khaprail, 7km from Siliguri.

A veterinary team conducted the post-mortem after which the animal was consigned to the flames.

Foresters at Sukna, which comes under Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, said the autopsy report was expected in a week.

Recounting the incident, Ranjit Mitra, manager of the tea estate, said: “At 8.30am, the workers informed us about the leopard after which we sent for the foresters at Sukna (located 5km from the garden), who came and took the body away.”

He said about a month ago he had heard about a wild animal, possibly a leopard, roaming the tea estate.

“However, no sighting or disturbance was reported in the garden during the past few weeks. Also, the size of the paw of the earlier animal was much smaller than the one found dead today. It is quite likely that this could be a different leopard,” Mitra added.

The manager denied allegations that the animal might have been poisoned by the workers because it had been preying on their poultry.

Animesh Bose of Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, however, feels otherwise. “We suspect some foul play. The forest department should investigate and take necessary action,” said Bose.

“A few weeks ago, villagers had lynched a leopard at Nagracata in Jalpaiguri. So, nothing can be ruled out,” he added.

Leopards generally give birth during summer — from April to June — in tea plantations located close to the forests. The animals avoid the sanctuaries during this period so that other big cats or leopards do not maul the newborn cubs. But this leads to tension in the gardens as the mother leopard starts preying on poultry reared by the workers and strays into human habitation.

Environmentalists alleged that though the leopard is listed in Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act and is a critically endangered species according to the World Conservation Union, it has not been covered by any conservation programme in India till date.

In 2005, the Wildlife Institute of India released an estimate (not a census), which said there were around 7,500 leopards in the country.

Source: The Telegraph

Leopard found dead in tea garden

Siliguri: The body of a full-grown male leopard was found in a tea garden here today.

Environmentalists, who suspect that the animal was poisoned, have demanded a probe into the death, the cause of which is yet to be ascertained. Forest officials, too, have not ruled out foul play.

“We cannot say anything until the post-mortem report reaches us. However, we are not denying anything either,” said P.T Bhutia, the conservator of forests (wildlife), north Bengal.

The carcass was discovered early this morning by some workers of Fulbari-Patan tea estate in Khaprail, 7km from Siliguri.

A veterinary team conducted the post-mortem after which the animal was consigned to the flames.

Foresters at Sukna, which comes under Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, said the autopsy report was expected in a week.

Recounting the incident, Ranjit Mitra, manager of the tea estate, said: “At 8.30am, the workers informed us about the leopard after which we sent for the foresters at Sukna (located 5km from the garden), who came and took the body away.”

He said about a month ago he had heard about a wild animal, possibly a leopard, roaming the tea estate.

“However, no sighting or disturbance was reported in the garden during the past few weeks. Also, the size of the paw of the earlier animal was much smaller than the one found dead today. It is quite likely that this could be a different leopard,” Mitra added.

The manager denied allegations that the animal might have been poisoned by the workers because it had been preying on their poultry.

Animesh Bose of Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, however, feels otherwise. “We suspect some foul play. The forest department should investigate and take necessary action,” said Bose.

“A few weeks ago, villagers had lynched a leopard at Nagracata in Jalpaiguri. So, nothing can be ruled out,” he added.

Leopards generally give birth during summer — from April to June — in tea plantations located close to the forests. The animals avoid the sanctuaries during this period so that other big cats or leopards do not maul the newborn cubs. But this leads to tension in the gardens as the mother leopard starts preying on poultry reared by the workers and strays into human habitation.

Environmentalists alleged that though the leopard is listed in Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act and is a critically endangered species according to the World Conservation Union, it has not been covered by any conservation programme in India till date.

In 2005, the Wildlife Institute of India released an estimate (not a census), which said there were around 7,500 leopards in the country.

Source: The Telegraph

Proposal to Goverment to acquire closed tea gardens

In a bid to reopen the closed tea estates in the Dooars, the Bengal labour department has forwarded a proposal to the central government to acquire all of them under the Indian Tea Act, 1953.

“We have sent a proposal to the Centre to take over the tea gardens in the Dooars belt which are lying closed for years,” said the principal secretary of the labour department, Subesh Das, at a news conference in Jalpaiguri today. “The central government can do so under the Tea Act.”

Das, who met the regional provident fund commissioner today, told reporters that at present, the total provident fund due in all the tea gardens of north Bengal stands at Rs 25 crore. “Officials of the provident fund department have been instructed to take steps and realise the dues,” the principal secretary added.

Representatives of trade unions and officials from the district administration also attended the meeting on the issue of provident fund. “It was decided that in the absence of the management (as in the closed estates), certificates of employment or death issued by any gazetted officers would be considered as proof enough to claim a worker’s provident fund,” said Chitta Dey, the convener of the Coordination Committee of Tea Plantation Workers.

State health secretary Kalyan Bagchi, who was present at the news conference, said his department did not have any medical record of death by starvation at the closed tea estates.

Source: The Telegraph

Labour Department survey on closed tea gardens

Officials of the Bengal labour department are conducting a survey to collect details on workers and their families in the closed tea gardens of north Bengal.

The move precedes the visit of Subesh Das, principal secretary of the state labour department, who is scheduled to reach here tomorrow and go on a recce of the closed tea gardens of Jalpaiguri district.

“We have sent officials to survey the state of affairs in the closed tea estates. They have been instructed to collect data related to the workforce and their dependants, dues, and some other details,” said Md Nasim, the joint labour commissioner posted in Siliguri.

He said the accumulated data would then be submitted to higher officials of the department and, in due course, passed on to the chief minister.

“We are leaving no stones unturned. At least 50 tripartite meetings have been convened with the owners of the closed estates at different levels but to no avail,” said Nasin.

Das’s visit, a source said, follows the formation of an expert panel comprising the secretaries of five different departments, including labour.

In Jalpaiguri, the labour department succeeded in striking a deal today. The tripartite meeting called to reopen Rahimpur tea estate turned out to be successful and the management has agreed to restart operations from tomorrow.

Worker death
Another worker of the abandoned Bharnobari tea garden died on Sunday evening, reports our Jaigaon correspondent. With this, the death toll in the garden from the time of its closure in December 2005 has reached 76.

Cinela Oraon, 46, had been suffering from breathing problems and did not have the money to buy medicines.

Source: The Telegraph