From Peck in Milan.
Listed as a flavoured tea, but description is that of coffee. I think there may be something lost in translation!
Still, I like to list all references to Jutlibari tea
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Health concerns on Tea Estates
The Assam Tribune Online
Health still a major concern in TEs
Staff correspondent
DIBRUGARH, Sept 4 – Despite several initiatives by the State government, health conditions in tea estates of Assam have continued to worry the Health department. Health intervention undertaken by Bal Sakha Assam, a social organisation, among adolescent girls in Mohanbari tea estate has exposed deteriorating health conditions among plantation workers and their children.
Sixty per cent of adolescent girls were found underweight. Out of 79 per cent who were found anaemic, 50 per cent of the girls have severe and 29 per cent have mild anaemia. Moreover, 40 per cent have menstrual problems. Infant mortality and maternal mortality rates among tea garden working communities is also one of the highest in the country.
Dr Aditya Chatterjee, Bal Sakha official who organised the health programme among adolescent girls in Mohanbari tea estate with the help of medical experts from Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) and Lahoal PHC on Saturday, said that the girls lacked awareness about basic health.
“Food habits and lifestyle of this hardworking community is a major factor for detriorating health conditions among them,” he expressed.
Following interaction with the adolescent girls, it was also revealed that drinking was too much among the members of the working community in TEs, Chatterjee said. At first, weight and height of each girl were measured to calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) of every adolescent girl. The blood group test and haemoglobin test were conducted by lab technicians of Lahoal PHC.
After the tests, one-to-one interaction and health check-up were carried out by Dr Sudhir Bagrodia, child specialists Dr Tulika Goswami Mahanta of community medicine, AMCH and Dr Mukesh Fogla, gynaecologist of Shristi Hospital. The management officials of Mohanbari tea estate and hospital staff of the tea garden and ASHA workers of the area also took part in the programme.
Bal Sakha is also planning to provide free treatment of eye problems to any adolescent girl through KK Saharia Eye Hospital, Dibrugarh. Dr Chatterjee said that a health card would be issued to individuals with eye problems to avail the free treatment. Dr Aditya asked the girls to build pressure on their mother to leave chewing of tobacco and chulai.
Dr Tulika demonstrated how to wash hands and told the gathering about how to check diarrhoea.
It needs to be mentioned here that the communication strategies of the health sector is hardly a success in tea gardens. Janani Suraksha Yojana, Mamata, Mamoni and other health projects of the State government have almost failed in its objective.
Health still a major concern in TEs
Staff correspondent
DIBRUGARH, Sept 4 – Despite several initiatives by the State government, health conditions in tea estates of Assam have continued to worry the Health department. Health intervention undertaken by Bal Sakha Assam, a social organisation, among adolescent girls in Mohanbari tea estate has exposed deteriorating health conditions among plantation workers and their children.
Sixty per cent of adolescent girls were found underweight. Out of 79 per cent who were found anaemic, 50 per cent of the girls have severe and 29 per cent have mild anaemia. Moreover, 40 per cent have menstrual problems. Infant mortality and maternal mortality rates among tea garden working communities is also one of the highest in the country.
Dr Aditya Chatterjee, Bal Sakha official who organised the health programme among adolescent girls in Mohanbari tea estate with the help of medical experts from Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) and Lahoal PHC on Saturday, said that the girls lacked awareness about basic health.
“Food habits and lifestyle of this hardworking community is a major factor for detriorating health conditions among them,” he expressed.
Following interaction with the adolescent girls, it was also revealed that drinking was too much among the members of the working community in TEs, Chatterjee said. At first, weight and height of each girl were measured to calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) of every adolescent girl. The blood group test and haemoglobin test were conducted by lab technicians of Lahoal PHC.
After the tests, one-to-one interaction and health check-up were carried out by Dr Sudhir Bagrodia, child specialists Dr Tulika Goswami Mahanta of community medicine, AMCH and Dr Mukesh Fogla, gynaecologist of Shristi Hospital. The management officials of Mohanbari tea estate and hospital staff of the tea garden and ASHA workers of the area also took part in the programme.
Bal Sakha is also planning to provide free treatment of eye problems to any adolescent girl through KK Saharia Eye Hospital, Dibrugarh. Dr Chatterjee said that a health card would be issued to individuals with eye problems to avail the free treatment. Dr Aditya asked the girls to build pressure on their mother to leave chewing of tobacco and chulai.
Dr Tulika demonstrated how to wash hands and told the gathering about how to check diarrhoea.
It needs to be mentioned here that the communication strategies of the health sector is hardly a success in tea gardens. Janani Suraksha Yojana, Mamata, Mamoni and other health projects of the State government have almost failed in its objective.
Migration in Assam on the decline
The Assam Chief Minister spoke to Siddharth Varadarajan, Editor of The Hindu,
at his office in Dispur on Saturday about the revival of the ‘anti
foreigner issue’ in Assamese politics in the wake of the recent clashes
between Bodo and Muslim groups in Kokrajhar that turned lakhs of
villagers into refugees. Excerpts:
Six weeks after the first killings in Kokrajhar, tens of thousands of
displaced persons remain in relief camps but the fear of renewed
violence appears to have subsided. Instead, there is talk of a revival
of the so-called “anti-foreigner” agitation in the rest of Assam. As
Chief Minister, how do you assess the possibility of the revival of this
agitation. Is this something that worries you?
They are trying to. I do feel they are trying to do. But I have my
doubt. It is not easy to do. It is not easy to revive the sentiment …
But the recent bandh was quite successful.
Any bandh in Assam is successful! If anybody gives a bandh [call], it
will be 100 per cent successful. The success of a bandh is not a
yardstick of success or mass support… Anybody, a small group or even if a
community gives a bandh call where other communities are not involved,
there also they observe the bandh.
When you say “they,” who do you feel is behind the attempt to raise
the “foreigners” issue again? Is it mostly the Asom Gana Parishad? Or
the Bharatiya Janata Party?
The BJP is number one.... But we will also expose them. [We will ask]
what you did when you were in power? How many foreigners did you detect
and act against? Now just because elections are approaching in 2014,
they are making this an issue.
What is the Assam government’s own information on the number of
non-citizens living and working in the State? Have you done any internal
study about migration, say over the past five years? Has there been any
significant rise in the number of undocumented migrants from
Bangladesh?
I have all along been saying that migration is on the decline. Where
does migration take place? Where there is ample job opportunity, where
there is land that is available. Today, land availability is not there.
Earlier, why did they come? Today, [that is] why they do not come? Now
migration has been there since the British came. Migrations here started
during the development of the tea, coal, oil industries in Assam.
Biharis and other groups came. Then to construct railway line who came?
The workers were Biharis, in clerical jobs there were Bengalis. Then
again during British times, more Bengalis came in because there was a
push to grow more food.
Now population growth in Assam according to the 2001 Census was less
than the national average. Yes, the Muslim population has risen, there
is no doubt. Just as even in the tea garden areas, population has risen.
This is because of illiteracy. Even in the tribal communities.
Illiteracy is the number one cause of higher population growth rates.
Now, when the AGP was in power and they had a chance to prove they were
different. They could have registered cases [against foreigners living
here]. Why did they not do it? In the case of voters list A,B,C, D, so
many lists were made to exclude the foreigners.... The Election
Commission also tried. How much could they do?
I suppose so far it has proved difficult to disentangle citizens from migrants.
See the number of cases. Three lakh cases are pending. Not that they
have all been identified as foreigners… Many of the people they are
talking about, they are Assamese, they speak Assamese. And “migration”
has become a convenient issue for someone to raise for political ends.
When one of the Bodo leaders was arrested recently [after the Kokrajhar
violence], he admitted, ‘Why should I indulge in attacking the Muslims
when I myself have engaged them in my business.’ The same thing is true
elsewhere in Bodoland also. All development activities, construction,
you will find migrants.
Now, in Guwahati there has been migration. To construct your house, to
buy chicken, you are dealing with migrants. Now they are all foreigners
and they are engaging them! Those who are agitating on this issue,
whether AGP or BJP leaders, their pandals, their houses were also
constructed by them … In the peak [of the anti-foreigners agitation], I
myself saw the AGP building was constructed by them, those who they
allege are illegal migrants. We do not say [this]. The politics they are
doing is wrong. They say that Tarun Gogoi is giving protection. But
[the Muslims] have not voted me for last two elections…
How worried are you about the growth of the All India United
Democratic Front (AIUDF) of Badruddin Ajmal among Muslim voters in
Assam?
There is a wrong perception that Muslims always vote for the Congress.
They never voted more than 50 per cent. Out of 26 [‘Muslim dominated’
seats in an Assembly of 126], the maximum Hiteswar Saikia got was 15 …
Second highest I got that time they were with me in 2001. I won 13 of
the seats; the other 13 were individuals with the Samjwawadi Party,
independents, etc.
The AIUDF has brought all these individuals on one platform. In 1996, we
got 9, and 11 of those seats were won by the AGP. Where is the question
of Muslims all along being with the Congress? But [the Opposition] goes
on blaming the Congress. I am not worried. The same accusation [of
bias] is made against me by some Muslims.
Now just because I am Hindu does that mean I should play Hindu politics?
As far I am concerned, if Hindus are also accusing me of ‘vote bank
politics’ and Muslims are accusing of me playing the ‘Hindu card,’ this
means that I am balanced…
Some of your critics have said the requirement of proof of land
documentation for rehabilitation of the inmates of refugees from the
Kokrajhar violence is unfair.
It is the first stage. If he has land, he had a house, he had
properties, these make immediate rehabilitation easier. Now 2.40 lakh
people have already returned to their homes. Others are also
returning... But one problem the government is facing is you cannot
rehabilitate people back in forest areas... A good percentage of [the
victims of the violence] were living there.
Why did the Army take so long to deploy in Kokrajhar after the violence started and you asked for assistance?
It took very long, five days. All kinds of procedural problems were
there. The Defence Secretary told us he did not have the authority. So I
myself had to speak to the Defence Minister and then the Army came out.
But you feel the situation there is under control now?
Yes, now it is controlled.
We keep hearing there are a lot of arms there….
Arms are there … Arms are there with every insurgent group. Whether
ULFA, the… KLO [Kamtapur Liberation Organisation]. Even with the
ceasefire groups, there are anti-talk [factions]. … though we have
recovered 80 per cent, their strength is reduced by 80 per cent. [But]
they cannot cause damage, as much damage.
siddharth.varadarajan@thehindu.co.in
Tea garden manager shot at in Assam
Business Standard
Press Trust of India
Tinsukia, September 17, 2012
A tea garden manager was shot at and injured by two identified gunmen in Upper Assam's Tinsukia district today.
The two assailants came on a motor-cycle and shot at the manager of Saraswati Tea Estate as he was going to the garden at Talap, official sources said.
The manager, identified as Chabi Das Gupta, was injured in the left hand and was admitted to the Doomadooma Civil Hospital, the sources said.
Press Trust of India
Tinsukia, September 17, 2012
A tea garden manager was shot at and injured by two identified gunmen in Upper Assam's Tinsukia district today.
The two assailants came on a motor-cycle and shot at the manager of Saraswati Tea Estate as he was going to the garden at Talap, official sources said.
The manager, identified as Chabi Das Gupta, was injured in the left hand and was admitted to the Doomadooma Civil Hospital, the sources said.
Natural gas should be supplied as part of pollution measures
Supply natural gas to all tea factories in 'No Development Zone': APCB to Assam Gas
Drinking water schemes for tea workers to be subsidised
Jagran Post
26 September 2012
Kolkata: To secure better working conditions for plantation workers, the Tea Board has approved a proposal to provide subsidies for drinking water schemes and rainwater harvesting projects.
At its 220th board meeting held on Tuesday, the Board, which functions under the Union Ministry of Commerce, granted 40 per cent subsidy on capital investment for piped and metered drinking water schemes and 70 per cent subsidy for rainwater harvesting projects and storage tanks.
A pilot project for supply of filtered drinking water to individual households of tea garden workers in Sonitpur district of Assam has also been approved, a communique from the statutory body said.
In order to encourage overseas buyers to use registered marks for teas of Indian origin and also to popularise these logos among consumers abroad, the board has decided to waive off a part of user fees for India Tea, Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri and other such logos.
Tea Board chairman M G V K Bhanu said, "All companies using our logos should be made to conform to strict quality standards. We are working towards ensuring strict compliance of these logos so that buyers overseas can distinguish our logos as the hallmark of quality Indian tea".
The board also approved proposals to provide better academic opportunities to the children of tea garden workers in the form of educational stipends, book grants, coaching and hostel fees for entry at IIT/IIM/Civil Services, provision of bicycles for girl students attending higher secondary schools, the communique added.
(Agencies)
26 September 2012
Kolkata: To secure better working conditions for plantation workers, the Tea Board has approved a proposal to provide subsidies for drinking water schemes and rainwater harvesting projects.
At its 220th board meeting held on Tuesday, the Board, which functions under the Union Ministry of Commerce, granted 40 per cent subsidy on capital investment for piped and metered drinking water schemes and 70 per cent subsidy for rainwater harvesting projects and storage tanks.
A pilot project for supply of filtered drinking water to individual households of tea garden workers in Sonitpur district of Assam has also been approved, a communique from the statutory body said.
In order to encourage overseas buyers to use registered marks for teas of Indian origin and also to popularise these logos among consumers abroad, the board has decided to waive off a part of user fees for India Tea, Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri and other such logos.
Tea Board chairman M G V K Bhanu said, "All companies using our logos should be made to conform to strict quality standards. We are working towards ensuring strict compliance of these logos so that buyers overseas can distinguish our logos as the hallmark of quality Indian tea".
The board also approved proposals to provide better academic opportunities to the children of tea garden workers in the form of educational stipends, book grants, coaching and hostel fees for entry at IIT/IIM/Civil Services, provision of bicycles for girl students attending higher secondary schools, the communique added.
(Agencies)
Extortion in Assam
Extortionist Assam, Naga ultras target tea growers
Sunday, 30 September 2012 19:30
Anup Sharma| Guwahati
While small tea growers in Upper Assam in particular have been receiving extortion letters as well as calls frequently, the anti-talk factions of the Ulfa and NSCN(IM) are targeting politicians also. The September 23 bomb blast in tea and oil-rich Sivsagar district is being seen as an attempt to threaten the tea growers to fall in line.
The increase in number of extortion threats has led the All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association (AASTGA) to demand the State Government for protection.
“On September 13 and 14, one of our members received an extortion demand in the name of anti-talk faction of the Ulfa,” said an office-bearer of the AASTGA on condition of anonymity.
“Another member of our organisation from Golaghat district received an extortion letter demanding Rs 10 lakh from a Nagaland-based militant outfit. The small tea growers of Golaghat have already been suffering due to inter-State boundary problems between Assam and Nagaland - Naga miscreants often enter into the tea gardens located close to border and destroy the tea plantation saying that the area belongs to them. The problem of extortion will dishearten the youth further who had taken up tea cultivation as their profession,” said the AASTGA member.
AASTGA has also said that even the tea estate owners in Tinsukia district often get extortion threats from the Nagaland-based NSCN(IM).
Indigenous planters have ushered in a new revolution by engaging in tea growing sector. Small tea growers in Assam are providing employment to over 15 lakh people. The State accounts for 13 per cent of the world’s total tea production and around 800 tea gardens in Assam produce 51 per cent of India’s annual tea production.
Last year, the State had produced 508.74 million kg of tea and approximately 30 per cent of that was from the 70,000 small tea growers (having only 10 to 12 hectares of land). The sector is very important for a State like Assam, where unemployment is a big problem.
Confirming the developments, Assam’s IGP (law and order) LR Bishnoi said, “We have received information by the small tea growers in some Upper Assam districts about extortion demands. Security has been provided to the particular growers depending on the requirement and our police force is working on how to stop these extortions by the outfits.”
The police have also succeeded in preventing extortion in some areas by arresting the culprits, he told The Pioneer.
But the tea growers are not alone in bearing the brunt. Even the ruling party’s legislators are being targeted. Recently, Debabrata Saikia, a Congress legislator and son of former Assam Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia, was served with a demand note of Rs 30 lakh.
Although during the initial years, the Ulfa was relatively peaceful and maintained a Robinhood image - punishing drug peddlers and corrupt officials - the outfit stepped up its violence and extortion after the 1983 Assembly polls in Assam. In May 1985, it looted a bank in Guwahati, killing its manager. Similarly in 1986, the outfit looted another bank at Namrup in Dibrugarh district. The outfit also carried out its first political murder, gunning down lawyer Kalipada Sen, one of the founders of the United Minorities Front of Assam (UMFA) in 1986.
Tea shortage and price increases
Tea prices set to rise on supply woes
Kolkata, Oct 9:
If the present situation is any indication, the outlook for tea globally does not appear to be terribly exciting.
The shortfall
in production in Kenya, Sri Lanka and India at present exceed 43 m kgs
compared to the previous year, according to J Thomas & Company
Private Ltd, the world’s largest tea auctioneers.
The
adverse weather conditions across the globe have affected the supply of
tea in the world market. With the exception of China, which is the
largest producer of green tea and growing crop exponentially, extreme
and erratic weather has affected production in Asia and Africa.
Green leaf crop
Climatic
conditions and pest attacks, particularly in North India, have ensured a
deficit of 15.4 m kgs till end July, and 21 m kgs all India. While
August crop in India is likely to show a small surplus, September
harvest in North India is expected to be well below that of last year.
The deficit in crop, therefore, is expected to get even wider by end
October. Current green leaf prices are on their way up which would
signal the hardening of prices at the bottom of the market, as well as a
shortage of green leaf availability.
Liquoring
Assams continue to hold levels in spite of normal arrivals in auction
centres at present. With increased purchasing power and discerning
tastes, the consumer is willing and able to pay significant premiums for
good quality. Medium Assams and Dooars are, at present, irregularly
easing in value, but overall averages continue to be well above last
year. Demand for these categories is also expected to increase as the
supply line gets squeezed.
The supply of quality
Assam teas for the rest of the year will be limited as the production
season gradually draws to a close. In North India, factories close down
by end of December as the cold weather inhibits leaf growth, and resume
operations only towards end March.
Low stocks
Most
upcountry markets are low on stock and the usual winter stock buying
will commence shortly. With domestic consumption growing at over 2.5 per
cent annually, an additional 20 m kgs of tea would be required, further
accentuating the supply shortfall.
Crop shortages
traditionally impact year end prices the most. Already the year to date
North India auction average is up by Rs 25 over the previous season.
Continuing shortfall in production, increased demand and low stocks at
buyer’s destinations all indicate that tea prices are clearly poised for
a further strengthening. In spite of this, tea prices, per se, continue
to remain below the commodity and inflation index.
Drop
in production and increased costs have negated price increases for
producers. Recent wage revisions and sharp hikes in input costs like
fertiliser and fuel have added to the burden of the planter, which even
the buoyant prices, have not managed to mitigate.
Pollution measures to help Kaziranga National Park
Tea factories in 'No Development Zones' to go green in Assam
Supratim Dey / Kolkata/ Guwahati Oct 09, 2012, 00:21 IST
Business Standard
All tea factories in Assam which are situated within ‘No Development Zones’ (NDZ) as well as in the range of 500 metres from the coordinates of NDZs will soon have to go green or else will face closures. The Pollution Control Board of Assam (PCBA) has asked these factories to use natural gas as fuel instead of burning fossil fuels. Consequently, the PCBA has directed the Assam Gas Company Limited (AGCL) to arrange supply of natural gas to these tea factories on priority basis within November 6.
This directive of PCBA is in compliance with the judgement of National Green Tribunal, dated September 7, 2012, which asked the former to ensure that no tea processing unit burn fossil fuel to run factories within NDZ and take immediate steps to stop their operations. The judgment was aimed at protecting the ecology in Kaziranga National Park and in its vicinity, which is highly eco-sensitive.
There are at least 22 tea processing units, in addition to 64 other factories, which have been affected by the judgment of the National Green Tribunal. To switch to natural gas as fuel, the tea factories will be required to make investment of Rs. 15 to 30 lakh, depending of the size and capacity of the factory.
“We are very much worried because it encompasses 22 tea factories manufacturing 22 million kgs of tea annually involving the fate of more than 40,000 workers and more than 3,000 small tea growers are dependent on these tea factories by way of supplying green leaf”, said Bidyananda Barkakoty, chairman of North Eastern Tea Association (NETA).
"The tea factories use coal normally in their boilers. The sulphur content of such coal is very high and the air pollution therefrom could pose a great threat to environment,” observed the Tribunal.
The focal point of the judgement a notification dated way back in 1996 of the Union ministry of environment and forests declaring an area of 15 km around Numaligarh Refinery as a “No Development Zone”. This notification has been in disuse since inception and instead a number of industrial undertakings, infrastructural facilities, townships etc. have all along come up in the area with the express approval of the concerned authorities of both the central and state governments.
However, the tea industry as welcomed the directive of PCBA and urged AGCL to take immediate steps to supply natural gas to these factories.
“We earnestly request the AGCL and the state government to take immediate steps so that the concerned tea factories are supplied with natural gas within the stipulated time”, said Rajib Barooah, chairman of Assam Tea Planters’ Association (ATPA).
Business Standard
All tea factories in Assam which are situated within ‘No Development Zones’ (NDZ) as well as in the range of 500 metres from the coordinates of NDZs will soon have to go green or else will face closures. The Pollution Control Board of Assam (PCBA) has asked these factories to use natural gas as fuel instead of burning fossil fuels. Consequently, the PCBA has directed the Assam Gas Company Limited (AGCL) to arrange supply of natural gas to these tea factories on priority basis within November 6.
This directive of PCBA is in compliance with the judgement of National Green Tribunal, dated September 7, 2012, which asked the former to ensure that no tea processing unit burn fossil fuel to run factories within NDZ and take immediate steps to stop their operations. The judgment was aimed at protecting the ecology in Kaziranga National Park and in its vicinity, which is highly eco-sensitive.
There are at least 22 tea processing units, in addition to 64 other factories, which have been affected by the judgment of the National Green Tribunal. To switch to natural gas as fuel, the tea factories will be required to make investment of Rs. 15 to 30 lakh, depending of the size and capacity of the factory.
“We are very much worried because it encompasses 22 tea factories manufacturing 22 million kgs of tea annually involving the fate of more than 40,000 workers and more than 3,000 small tea growers are dependent on these tea factories by way of supplying green leaf”, said Bidyananda Barkakoty, chairman of North Eastern Tea Association (NETA).
"The tea factories use coal normally in their boilers. The sulphur content of such coal is very high and the air pollution therefrom could pose a great threat to environment,” observed the Tribunal.
The focal point of the judgement a notification dated way back in 1996 of the Union ministry of environment and forests declaring an area of 15 km around Numaligarh Refinery as a “No Development Zone”. This notification has been in disuse since inception and instead a number of industrial undertakings, infrastructural facilities, townships etc. have all along come up in the area with the express approval of the concerned authorities of both the central and state governments.
However, the tea industry as welcomed the directive of PCBA and urged AGCL to take immediate steps to supply natural gas to these factories.
“We earnestly request the AGCL and the state government to take immediate steps so that the concerned tea factories are supplied with natural gas within the stipulated time”, said Rajib Barooah, chairman of Assam Tea Planters’ Association (ATPA).
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Tea Cheers
The Indian Express
Express Features Service: Wed Feb 15 2012, 01:46 hrs
Recently, tea sommelier Snigdha Manchanda Binjola struck a chord with shoppers at Godrej Nature's Basket Aundh as she conducted a High Tea Appreciation Workshop. Participants tasted tea – from green tea, golden tea, white tea, flowering tea to classic Darjeeling and Assam tea – paired with dark chocolates and cookies.
Seasoned Music
The memorabilia-laden interiors of Hard Rock Cafe will resonate with the astute voice of singer Gary Lawyer on February 16. The veteran performer will offer his trademark mix of pop, jazz, rock, country or folk in the evening.
Art with a heart
This one promises to be a heavyweight of an art exhibition. Artists Lalitha Lajmi, Madhuri Bhaduri, Buwa Shete, Shrikant Kadam, Samir Mondal, Gurcharan Singh, Datta Bansode, Ramesh Gorjala, Babu Xavier, Nishant Dange, Pradeep Mishra, Jagganath Paul and others have come together for an art-cum-charity event called 'The Artist's Brush', to be held from February 16 to 19 at Patch of Blue in Mundhwa. A by-invitation-only preview of the collection will be held today at the venue. The Lila Poonawalla Foundation will receive 25 per cent of all sale proceeds.
Express Features Service: Wed Feb 15 2012, 01:46 hrs
Recently, tea sommelier Snigdha Manchanda Binjola struck a chord with shoppers at Godrej Nature's Basket Aundh as she conducted a High Tea Appreciation Workshop. Participants tasted tea – from green tea, golden tea, white tea, flowering tea to classic Darjeeling and Assam tea – paired with dark chocolates and cookies.
Seasoned Music
The memorabilia-laden interiors of Hard Rock Cafe will resonate with the astute voice of singer Gary Lawyer on February 16. The veteran performer will offer his trademark mix of pop, jazz, rock, country or folk in the evening.
Art with a heart
This one promises to be a heavyweight of an art exhibition. Artists Lalitha Lajmi, Madhuri Bhaduri, Buwa Shete, Shrikant Kadam, Samir Mondal, Gurcharan Singh, Datta Bansode, Ramesh Gorjala, Babu Xavier, Nishant Dange, Pradeep Mishra, Jagganath Paul and others have come together for an art-cum-charity event called 'The Artist's Brush', to be held from February 16 to 19 at Patch of Blue in Mundhwa. A by-invitation-only preview of the collection will be held today at the venue. The Lila Poonawalla Foundation will receive 25 per cent of all sale proceeds.
Moves to end gender discrimination
The Hindu (visit the actual site for a good photo)
Gardens of Disparit,y 21 Feb 2012
Gardens of Disparit,y 21 Feb 2012
Tea estate managements in Assam collaborate with the UN to promote
gender equality. Child marriage is common among the socially excluded
tea estate communities including ex-tea estate communities.
Winds of change are sweeping the rather isolated but
self-contained labour communities within the tea gardens in Assam. For
the first time, the tea estate managements have joined hands with the
UNICEF to address issues of gender discrimination including child
marriage and promoting the rights of the child.
“Child
marriage often results in girls leaving schools, it impacts their
health and early motherhood results in anaemia as the body is not mature
enough to deal with marriage and motherhood,” Jenema Patia, community
mobiliser of Muskaan Girls Club in Namroop Tea Estate. With a membership
of 60 adolescent girls, the Club is hugely popular. “We come here every
Sunday to discuss our issues including child marriage and try to find
solutions and convince elders in the community that child marriage is
not good for girls,” she adds.
This group saved a
17- year-old girl who was one of their members, from being thrown out
from her house by her parents after she was spotted by her brother
talking to a boy. The brother threatened to report the incident at home,
and fearing admonition from the family, the girl spent the night alone
in a tea garden. When she was brought home the next morning, the word
spread like wild fire that she had eloped with the man. “The girl tried
her best to explain the situation but the parents would just not believe
her and wanted her out from the house for bringing a bad name to the
family. It was because of our intervention that she is still at home and
now wants to enrol in a school,” Jenema explained.
Tea cultivation is a predominant occupation in Assam and Dibrugarh
district accounts for nearly 55 per cent of the tea estates in the
State. Most of the workers are descendants of 19th and 20th century
tribal migrants from Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal
who live in well demarcated labour lines within the estates as closed
communities. Even after retirement from active employment, they continue
to live close to their labour lines and follow the same customs and
traditions as the rest of the community.
While
Dibrugarh has a lower prevalence of child marriage compared to the State
as a whole, the practice has been observed to be commonly adopted by
the socially excluded tea estate communities including ex-tea estate
communities. A study conducted by the Assam Branch of the Indian Tea
Association (ABITA) in 2006 across 50 tea estates indicated that one
fourth of the total respondents felt it was appropriate for girls to
marry between the ages of 14 to 18 years. Besides generic factors which
contribute to child marriage across the country, lack of education
facilities (beyond primary schooling provided by the managements),
availability of employment opportunities at an early age (women could
get employed as early as 10 years for plucking of tea leaves and boys at
15 years) and the common practice of elopement among the young boys and
girls were also cited as the reasons for early marriage.
In 2006, gaining access to communities living inside the tea estates
was a major challenge and it could be obtained through ABITA. The UNICEF
adopted a two pronged strategy with ABITA and set up the Adolescent
Girls Clubs to create an atmosphere of openness where parents and the
girls themselves were comfortable in discussing their issues with their
peers. One of the key issues during meetings is child marriage and
possible solutions to prevent it. There have been instances where club
members who have had specific information on child marriage taking place
in the community have successfully counselled family members against
it. Between 2008 and 2010, 144 child marriage cases were reported by the
Adolescent Girls Clubs in Dibrugarh and the members played an important
role in preventing around 12 marriages by counselling. “The numbers may
not be high but this is just a beginning of the process but the number
could have been much more than 144,” Vedprakash Gautam, Child Protection
Officer, Assam Field Office, UNICEF said.
“The tea
estates management have also introduced changes in their practice and
we now no longer extend loans to families where girls are married
early,” Sandeep Ghosh, secretary of ABITA said. But this is always not
successful, as the families often get loans from banks or can approach
money-lenders that often add to their financial burden. It was through
the Girls Club that a case of sexual abuse was also brought to the
notice wherein a young girl was being sexually assaulted by her uncle
with whom she was living. Once it became public, the girl was sent back
to her mother. While no action has been taken on the erring uncle so far
UNICEF hopes that ABITA would proactively take up the matter so that it
is a deterrent, Mr Gautam said. In addition to AGCs, UNICEF also runs
Young Child Survival Programme for mother and child health, hand wash
programme for better hygiene and sanitation and several nutrition-based
programmes in these tea estates.
Try tea tycoons for defence leaks: Court
The Times of India
TNN Feb 20, 2012, 05.08AM IST
NEW DELHI: A special CBI court has paved the way for commencement of trial against the owners of the world's first tea plantation company - K K Jajodia and his son Aditya Jajodia -for allegedly dispatching documents pertaining to security of the nation to two European countries.
The Jajodias are founder members of Assam Company Ltd (ACL), the flagship company of Duncan Macneill Group, established in 1839 by a deed of British Parliament. It was the first tea plantation company in the world and was awarded a royal charter by Queen Victoria in 1845.
On February 13, the court of special CBI judge Pradeep Chaddha ordered framing of charges against the duo in a 25-year-old case where they were booked along with senior government officials for allegedly leaking and dispatching a report of the defence ministry. The report reportedly contained details of equipment including radar and 'flycatchers' for detection and tracking of low-flying enemy aircraft.
"On face of it, it would indicate that both father and son were engaged in dispatching/selling documents pertaining to security of the nation," said Judge Chaddha. He said he found sufficient prima facie evidence against the duo to frame charges under criminal conspiracy and a few sections of Official Secrets Act.
The court has also framed charges against N W Nerukar, then advisor in the department of electronics, and against Brigadier R S Deol, who served in the directorate of weapons and equipment, Army Headquarters, between March 1986 and March 1988.
As per the CBI, on April 13, 1987, acting on a tip-off, senior CBI officials picked up two couriers from a courier company at Barakhamba road. The first packet was addressed to one Marc De Saint Dennis of Paris and contained a photocopy of "User Evaluation Trial Report on RATAC-S Battlefield Surveillance Rader (BFSR) phase-I". The second cover was addressed to Mr J W H Weavers, Netherlands, and contained typed draft in 13 pages containing details of radar, flycatcher and other arms and ammunition. Following this interception, the CBI teams raided Jajodia's Vasant Vihar residence and allegedly found more documents pertaining to details of utility helicopters required by the army from K K Jajodia's bedroom.
"Seizure of further documents from the house of Jajodias raises suspicion that they were involved in the peddling of secrets. Had nothing been recovered from their residence probably opinion of the court would have been different but further recovery from the residence clinches the issue for the time being and it seems that they were indeed involved with leakage of defence secrets," said Judge Chaddha, who has now put the case for February 23.
TNN Feb 20, 2012, 05.08AM IST
NEW DELHI: A special CBI court has paved the way for commencement of trial against the owners of the world's first tea plantation company - K K Jajodia and his son Aditya Jajodia -for allegedly dispatching documents pertaining to security of the nation to two European countries.
The Jajodias are founder members of Assam Company Ltd (ACL), the flagship company of Duncan Macneill Group, established in 1839 by a deed of British Parliament. It was the first tea plantation company in the world and was awarded a royal charter by Queen Victoria in 1845.
On February 13, the court of special CBI judge Pradeep Chaddha ordered framing of charges against the duo in a 25-year-old case where they were booked along with senior government officials for allegedly leaking and dispatching a report of the defence ministry. The report reportedly contained details of equipment including radar and 'flycatchers' for detection and tracking of low-flying enemy aircraft.
"On face of it, it would indicate that both father and son were engaged in dispatching/selling documents pertaining to security of the nation," said Judge Chaddha. He said he found sufficient prima facie evidence against the duo to frame charges under criminal conspiracy and a few sections of Official Secrets Act.
The court has also framed charges against N W Nerukar, then advisor in the department of electronics, and against Brigadier R S Deol, who served in the directorate of weapons and equipment, Army Headquarters, between March 1986 and March 1988.
As per the CBI, on April 13, 1987, acting on a tip-off, senior CBI officials picked up two couriers from a courier company at Barakhamba road. The first packet was addressed to one Marc De Saint Dennis of Paris and contained a photocopy of "User Evaluation Trial Report on RATAC-S Battlefield Surveillance Rader (BFSR) phase-I". The second cover was addressed to Mr J W H Weavers, Netherlands, and contained typed draft in 13 pages containing details of radar, flycatcher and other arms and ammunition. Following this interception, the CBI teams raided Jajodia's Vasant Vihar residence and allegedly found more documents pertaining to details of utility helicopters required by the army from K K Jajodia's bedroom.
"Seizure of further documents from the house of Jajodias raises suspicion that they were involved in the peddling of secrets. Had nothing been recovered from their residence probably opinion of the court would have been different but further recovery from the residence clinches the issue for the time being and it seems that they were indeed involved with leakage of defence secrets," said Judge Chaddha, who has now put the case for February 23.
Model farms set up to develop standard package for organic tea
India produces about 26 million g of organic tea and 80 per cent of this is exported to Germany, the UK and the US.
Nuremberg (Germany), Feb. 19:
The Tea Board has set up three model farms in India on 100 acres each to
develop a standard package for cultivation of organic tea, according to
Ms Roshni Sen, Deputy Chairperson of the Board.
“The farms are in Munnar (Kerala), Darjeeling (West Bengal) and Assam
and they will develop a standard package through research and
development,” she told Business Line at the Indian Tea Board pavilion at BioFach 2012.
The package is being developed with financial aid from the Food and Agriculture Organisation's Centre For Commodities Fund.
While the United Planters Association of Southern India-Tea Research
Association is involved in the Munnar farm, the Darjeeling Tea
Development Research Corporation is doing the spadework at Darjeeling.
The Tea Research Association of India, Tocklai, is in charge of research
in Assam gardens.
“We are following a two-pronged strategy in encouraging organic
production of tea. One is to prepare a standard package for cultivation
and the other is to rope in small farmers by imparting regular
training,” she said.
This is seen as a significant move by India to strengthen its hold in
the organic tea market with a production of 26 million kg. About 80 per
cent of this is exported to Germany, the UK and the US.
Currently, organic tea is being cultivated on 22,000 hectares and India
is one of the few countries that has a national programme for organic
production apart from China.
There are eight certifying agencies in the organic tea sector and 50
producers have been certified by these bodies. “Other producers are in
the process of getting certification,” Ms Sen said.
The development of organic tea and a standard package for its
cultivation is also seen important in the background of reports of
pesticide residues being found in Indian tea consignments.
The Tea Board has appointed an agency to undertake a market study on domestic demand in organic products.
“We have already done a study on demand for such products in the US,” she said.
On setting up an export inspection council in view of increasing
complaints on quality grounds against Indian tea, Ms Sen said a
monitoring system will be set up during the 12th Plan period.
To a question on a directorate for small tea growers, she said it will
begin functioning from this year. “We have already started the
recruitment process for the directorate,” she said.
(The trip for BioFach 2012 has been sponsored by Nuremberg Messe GmbH in collaboration with the APEDA).
Tea needs national drink status to survive
Rahul Karmakar, Hindustan Times
Guwahati, February 26, 2012
Guwahati, February 26, 2012
All is not well with the tea industry. The reasons vary from shortage of labour, lack of mechanisation and market-induced losses leading to closure of several estates.
Three major tea organisations in an SOS to the Parliament Standing Committee on Commerce on February 26 sought rejuvenation of the industry. They have accordingly suggested auction reforms and release of subsidies on time besides giving tea the ‘national drink’ status.
“The 1999-2007 phase was harrowing for the tea industry leading to losses across the country and closure of several estates. The situation improved in 2008 but the 2011-12 fiscal saw prices dipping at the auctions. If that weren’t bad enough, cost of production spiraled owing to key inputs such as fertilizers, coal, gas, electricity, etc. becoming more expensive,” NETA president Bidyananda Barkakoty told HT.
The joint forum of the three tea organizations underscored the need for a robust electronic auction system following assessment by regulatory authorities. They also pointed out that delay in releasing subsidies announced by the government and Tea Board from time to time often negates the purpose.
“In Assam, the industry has overcome many crises in the last 180 years. But we are not equipped to overcome the crisis that we have already started facing – shortage of labour. We need a special project on mechanisation for developing user-friendly, economical machineries for harvesting, pruning and other activities,” Barkakoty said.
Other requirements to save the industry included branding and export promotion, value-addition on promotion of Indian brands, improving pace of tea plantation, opening of ‘chai bars’ across India to promote tea drinking and extending transport subsidy scheme to the industry.
“The elevation of tea as a national drink will go a long way in the industry getting the attention it deserves by virtue of being India’s most popular beverage,” an industry spokesperson said.
Small tea growers for easier factory norms
The Assam Tribune Online
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 28 – The All Assam Tea Factory Demand Committee has pleaded for making easier the Tea Board norms for setting up tea factories for the small tea growers of the State.
In their memorandum to the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, which left for New Delhi today after a four-day visit to the NE region, the Demand Committee suggested that licences should be issued to the small tea growers having their sufficient own green leaf production.
Self-help group is not the only way to accommodate excess amount of green leaves produced by the growers, the committee said. Establishment of suitable centre to train up the growers on production of quality green leaf and processing of quality made tea have also been pleaded by the committee.
The committee argued that the over 80,000 small tea growers of the State produce 716 million kgs of green leaves annually making a contribution of 30 per cent to the total quantity of tea produced in the State. But, the small tea growers do not have their own processing units for manufacturing made tea.
As a result, small tea growers for the last two decades have depended either on the estate factories or on the bought-tea-leaf factories, which could not fetch the right price in the market.
To safeguard their interest, some enterprising small tea growers are prepared to set up tea factories of their own. It is learnt that more than 18 such entrepreneurs have submitted application along with all necessary documents cleared from various State departments to the Tea Board, but to no avail.
It has resented the Government of Assam’s 2008 advice to the Tea Board for not to issue any more licence to for any fresh tea factories in the State. The State Government’s 2008 suggestion was based on the belief that excess amount of green leaf would require feed excess processing facilities. This would result in coarse plucking.
But this concept was not correct, said the committee. It argued that lakh kilograms of green leaves were dumped by the small tea growers on the roads during the peak season of 2011. Moreover, bought-leaf-factories and big estate factories were allowed to enhance their manufacturing capacities by manifolds during this period, argued the Committee.
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 28 – The All Assam Tea Factory Demand Committee has pleaded for making easier the Tea Board norms for setting up tea factories for the small tea growers of the State.
In their memorandum to the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, which left for New Delhi today after a four-day visit to the NE region, the Demand Committee suggested that licences should be issued to the small tea growers having their sufficient own green leaf production.
Self-help group is not the only way to accommodate excess amount of green leaves produced by the growers, the committee said. Establishment of suitable centre to train up the growers on production of quality green leaf and processing of quality made tea have also been pleaded by the committee.
The committee argued that the over 80,000 small tea growers of the State produce 716 million kgs of green leaves annually making a contribution of 30 per cent to the total quantity of tea produced in the State. But, the small tea growers do not have their own processing units for manufacturing made tea.
As a result, small tea growers for the last two decades have depended either on the estate factories or on the bought-tea-leaf factories, which could not fetch the right price in the market.
To safeguard their interest, some enterprising small tea growers are prepared to set up tea factories of their own. It is learnt that more than 18 such entrepreneurs have submitted application along with all necessary documents cleared from various State departments to the Tea Board, but to no avail.
It has resented the Government of Assam’s 2008 advice to the Tea Board for not to issue any more licence to for any fresh tea factories in the State. The State Government’s 2008 suggestion was based on the belief that excess amount of green leaf would require feed excess processing facilities. This would result in coarse plucking.
But this concept was not correct, said the committee. It argued that lakh kilograms of green leaves were dumped by the small tea growers on the roads during the peak season of 2011. Moreover, bought-leaf-factories and big estate factories were allowed to enhance their manufacturing capacities by manifolds during this period, argued the Committee.
Assam Tea producers cry for survival
IBN Live
PTI | 05:02 PM,Feb 26,2012 Guwahati, Feb 26 (PTI) Three Assam tea producers' Associations have submitted a memorandum to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce urging it to take immediate measures to ensure the survival of Assam's tea industry. A joint forum of Assam Tea Planters' Association (ATPA), North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) and Bharatiya Cha Parishad (BCP) pointed out that the industry was passing through a period of stagnancy. Stating these, NETA Chairman Bidyananda Barkakoty said here today that the average price of CTC tea in Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) from April 1, 2011 to January 31 2012 was lower by Rs 4.41 compared to that of the same period in 2010-11. Rise in cost of key inputs such as fertilizers, coal, fuel, gas and electricity have made the task of containing the cost of production difficult. "If logical steps are not taken immediately to address policy bottlenecks in the primary markets/auctions, there is every possibility that soon the industry will be gasping for survival," he said. The Planters' Associations have also called for immediate auction reforms and urged for a robust electronic auction for fair price. "Unlike other tea growing areas/states, tea is a major industry of Assam and therefore sustained viability of the tea industry is vital for the local economy," he added.
PTI | 05:02 PM,Feb 26,2012 Guwahati, Feb 26 (PTI) Three Assam tea producers' Associations have submitted a memorandum to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce urging it to take immediate measures to ensure the survival of Assam's tea industry. A joint forum of Assam Tea Planters' Association (ATPA), North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) and Bharatiya Cha Parishad (BCP) pointed out that the industry was passing through a period of stagnancy. Stating these, NETA Chairman Bidyananda Barkakoty said here today that the average price of CTC tea in Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) from April 1, 2011 to January 31 2012 was lower by Rs 4.41 compared to that of the same period in 2010-11. Rise in cost of key inputs such as fertilizers, coal, fuel, gas and electricity have made the task of containing the cost of production difficult. "If logical steps are not taken immediately to address policy bottlenecks in the primary markets/auctions, there is every possibility that soon the industry will be gasping for survival," he said. The Planters' Associations have also called for immediate auction reforms and urged for a robust electronic auction for fair price. "Unlike other tea growing areas/states, tea is a major industry of Assam and therefore sustained viability of the tea industry is vital for the local economy," he added.
Assam Government’s Actions in Starvation Deaths – Inadequate and Misleading
From Times of Assam, Saturday 10 March
By- Wali Laskar | Date- March 04, 2012
By- Wali Laskar | Date- March 04, 2012
After
the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) reported hunger
deaths in a tea garden in Assam, the state government has taken some
actions, though they are inadequate and some of them are even
misleading.
The BHRPC reported that
12 people died due to starvation, malnutrition and lack of medical care
in the Bhuvan Valley Tea Estate in Cachar district since the owners
closed down the estate on 8 October, 2011 and abandoned the labourers
without paying their wages, bonus, provident fund dues and other
benefits stipulated in the Plantation Labour Act, 1951. The government
welfare schemes including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act,
2005 and Integrated Child Development Scheme as well as the Supreme
Court directives issued in the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)
vs Union of India & Others or Writ Petition (Civil) 196 of 2001
which is also known as the right to food case not implemented properly.
The
actions that have been taken by the government include 1. making the
owners to reopen the garden on 9 February, 2012 after 4 months, 2.
making the owners to pay a part of the due wages/salary and bonus, 3. a
magisterial inquiry into the causes of some deaths, 4. making the owners
to increase the wages a little and 5. forming one man inquiry committee
to find out the factors that led to the deaths:
1. It is true that the garden has been reopened on 9 February at the instance of the district administration.
However, the owners have not yet appointed a permanent manager to run
the tea estate. No qualified and permanent doctor and nurse have been
appointed in the NRHM run garden hospital. There is also no electricity
and water available. There is only an ASHA, a pharmacist and a lab boy
in the hospital. Health conditions of 43 people are bad who have not yet
received any medical attention.
The
rationing of some staple food has also been started. However, according
to the labourers, both the quality and quantity of the food items
supplied are not up to the mark.
The factory is yet to be opened.
2. Only 50% of the outstanding wages has been paid and bonus for the year 2011 has been paid.
According information, bonus for the year 2010 and 2009 are still
outstanding along with remaining 50% of wages. Owners are yet to deposit
their part of provident fund. Since the labourers incurred debt during
the period of the closure after repayment of these debts they are not in
position to spend towards medical treatment.
The
labourers also told that since 2000 the owners have never constructed
and repaired any dwelling house of the labourers. We have seen them
living in dilapidated huts falling far below the requirements of the
adequate housing within the meaning of the right to adequate housing.
3. A magisterial inquiry into the causes of some deaths was conducted.
The inquiry concluded that these deaths have taken place due to causes
other than that of starvation. It appears that the methodology of the
inquiry has been asking a question and recording a reply without any
independent witness. The BHRPC is constraint to say that this method
does not stand much credibility.
It
also appears that there is a lack of clarity in the sense of the terms
starvation, malnutrition and death caused by them as used in the inquiry
report. The BHRPC has relied on the definitions of starvation and
malnutrition as given in the National Food Security Bill drafted by the
National Advisory Council. There are some guidelines for investigation
of starvation deaths prepared following relevant protocols of the World
Health Organisation and other UN bodies. One such protocol is prepared
by the Supreme Court Commissioners on the right to food. According to
these guidelines, the modes of death and causes of death as well as
various types of causes need to be separated to find out the actual
cause of death.
Circumstantial
evidences strongly suggest that underlying or contributory causes of all
the deaths are starvation and malnutrition. There is no other
explanation of the unusually high rate of death in this particular
garden in this particular period. It is as if there is a steady
continuous spell of death that even awaits the living.
More
over, it is reported that the government admitted that for last 20
years the garden was not running properly and the Plantation Labour Act,
1951 was not followed and this led to the abject poverty of the
labourers.
4. It is reported that a new wage structure for labourers of tea gardens of Barak valley was announced.
According to this structure, effective from 1 January, 2012, the wage
is fixed Rs 68 per day for one year. From 1 January, 2013, the daily
wage would be Rs 72 and from 1 January, 2014, it would be Rs 75 per day.
But the payment of the 50% outstanding wages that was made to the
labourers of the Bhuvan valley tea garden is at rate of Rs 50 per day,
instead of Rs 68. On the other hand, the labourers of the tea garden of
Brahmaputra Valley in Assam are paid Rs 75 and their counterparts in
Paschimbanga (West Bengal) are paid Rs 85 per day. This discrimination
has no reasonable basis and in violation of equality clause of the
Constitution of India as well as the norms of equal pay for equal works.
The wages of tea labourers of Assam should be same for the time being,
though the labourers are demanding Rs 100 per day at the minimum for a
long time.
5. A one man
inquiry committee of additional chief secretary Mr. P K Choudhury to
find out the factors that led to hunger deaths and fix the
responsibility. However, the Supreme Court of India has held
that the chief secretary of the state is responsible for every
starvation death that takes place in his state. An inquiry by a person
who is a part of the state administration to determine whether these
were starvation deaths or not falls within the prohibition of nemo debet esse judex in propia causa—no one should be judge in his own cause and this is a universally recognized rule of natural justice.
More over, right to truth and justice is a collective right of the people. Therefore, they must appear to have been rendered.
In
view of the above and the assurance of the Chief Minister that he will
spare no effort to ensure protection of human rights of every citizen
and prevention of starvation deaths, the BHRPC is very hopeful and with
lots of hope it suggests that:
A.
The authorities should provide urgent relief to the tea workers in
terms of food supply and medical treatment to prevent further deaths and
deterioration of health conditions of sick workers and their
dependents.
B. The
authorities should conduct a prompt, impartial and objective inquiry
into the situation of the garden to fix responsibility for the deaths
and the conditions that led to this situation including corruption in
implementation of government welfare schemes and non-adherence to the
provisions of the Plantation Labour Act and other laws applicable in the
estate management by an independent commission of inquiry headed by a
sitting or retired judge of a high court or the supreme court and
comprising of, among others, medical experts, nutrition experts, labour
rights and human rights experts.
C.
The officials or other persons who would be found negligent and
derelict in their legal duties and responsibilities that directly
contributed to the developing of the situation that led to the deaths
should be prosecuted according to law.
D. The kin and the dependent of the deceased person should be provided with adequate reparation so far money can provide.
E.
The authorities should ensure that all outstanding dues of the
labourers are paid immediately and the wages of the all tea labourers of
Assam made equal for the time being and that the tea gardens are run
according to the laws providing all rights and benefits to the labourers
under the laws.
In sum, the BHRPC
would also like to see assumption of some moral responsibility for these
calamitious circumstances of death under conditions of hunger and
malnutrition, instead of a mere legalistic standpoint. We expect that
the Govt. at the state and the Centre should speak the truth and does
not issue mere denials in a circumlocutory fashion. In this situation of
famished deaths, ought is more important than is.
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