Joint Forum seeks to talk tea garden land issues with govt

MANAS R BANNERJEE, SNS, SILIGURI, 28 MARCH 2023 : Constituents of Joint Forum, a conglomeration of trade unions in tea plantations, have decided to seek an appointment with the Commissioner on, West Bengal Land Department, Smaraki Mahapatra, to discuss Iand-related issues in tea plantations, and especially the decision to convert leasehold land to freehold land in tea garden areas, following the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill 2023. 

"We are anxious following the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill 2023, which is an industry in Bengal. We will approach the Land Reforms Commissioner for an appointment to discuss land-related issues in tea plantations. Though the Chief Secretary, West Bengal government, addressing the Press had recently said that conversion of leasehold land to freehold land would not be applicable in tea plantations, it can be done following the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill 2023. 

When the state government has not yet formulated its policy to settle Iand rights of tea workers who are living in ancestral land, we have decided not to allow resumption of surplus land earmarked in nine tea gardens in this region, including the Hills and the Dooars. Resumption of surplus land cannot be possible without hearing. We have already stalled the process at the administrative level," Joint Forum Spokesperson Ziaul Alam said, adding, "Our demand is that the state will have to rewind the Amendment Bill because it would create negative impact socially, economically and demographically" 

The Joint Forum has also planned to march to all Block Land and land Reforms Offices in the tea belt on 27 April, comprising Uttar Dinajpur, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar districts and its adjoining areas on the same issue, especially demanding land rights in tea plantations and even for people who reside in Bazaars and Mahallas. 

"We have decided to march to all BLLROs on 14 April, since the day is a holiday, we have decided to reschedule it from 14 to 27 April," Mr Alam said. 

As the State Labour Department has decided to call a tripartite meeting on 12 April this year, after a long gap, the Joint Forum has also prepared to table some issues before the house as well the state government at a time when state Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak and Principal Secretary and other officials will be present. 

Mr Alam said: "There are several issues. There is a Housing Advisory Committee for tea workers' welfare, and the last meeting was held in 2010. Similarly, there is a Medical Advisory Committee, but no meeting has been held in the recent past. No meeting was convened by the labour minister on Provident Fund issues. In the tea belt, the education system is not good, owing to a lack of adequate teachers in secondary and higher secondary levels. On the other hand, as the rate of remuneration is comparatively less in the state, people as well as tea workers and even all family members have migrated to southern states fast. 

In fact, the tea region is socially going back faster. This sad scenario is very unfortunate." Mr Alam further said: "There are some other issues in tea gardens. We have planned to resolve them through bipartite talks. Practically, tripartite meeting some- times turn into political talks."