Editor - Pawan Kumar Gupta
New delhi
Today, a delegation from Darjeeling led me by Hon'ble Governor of West Bengal Dr. C. Too. Met Anand Bosejiu and asked him to intervene immediately in regards to the political notification issued by the West Bengal Government on 7 February, 2025. This notification allows tea garden owners to distract or hand over 30% of the land non-tea use such as hotels, hydro dam, and commercial use.
The delegation has raised serious questions about the validity of the said policy and its tea workers, the Raithane community, and the possibility of negative impacting tea gardens in our region. This policy emphasizes hundreds of laws in the state and central, as well as how West Bengal Land Reform Law, 1955, West Bengal Estate Acquisition Law, 1953 and T Act 1953. This policy that allows changes to land distractions or use for non-tea purposes will damage the legal format aimed at preserving tea production and protecting the rights of tea workers.
The policy also threatens the livelihoods of 250,000 permanent tea workers with majority marginalized communities and nearly 10 million seasonal workers. We are concerned that this policy displays Raithane communities in Darjeeling hills, Terai and Doovers region, and deprives tea workers of their pulses rights to their pushtain lands. Apart from this, this policy poses serious threat to the constitutional rights of workers, especially the right of life and livelihood under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. By changing the distractions or use of land that has been used for tea production for generations, this policy will endanger the employment security and basic rights of tea workers, as well as poverty and insecurity.
Another important concern, there are many processional irregularities associated with the way this policy is presented. We point out the fact that this policy declaration is not consulting or consulting with tea workers, unions, Indian Tea Board, or elected representatives of Darjeeling Mountains, Terai and Doovers region. This lack of counsel and transparency overlooks the democratic process, and the voices of those most affected by this policy is ignored.
The tea industry is a major economic base in North Bengal that provides employment to millions of workers. We fear that handing over 30% of tea garden land for non-tea production purposes will destabilize the tea industry, decrease tea production, and boost unemployment and poverty in the region. This policy will pose a big risk to the broad social-economic stability of North Bengal region along with the livelihood of tea workers.
Keeping these concerns in mind, we have asked the Hon'ble Governor to intervene and stop the implementation of this policy legally and constitutionally illegal. We've detailed review of the validity and compliance of relevant laws of this policy, as well as emphasized the need to put their welfare a priority asking to ensure the lives and livelihoods of tea workers under the Indian Constitution.
The Hon'ble Governor has assured that he will take necessary steps to prevent both tea workers and the tea industry from irreparable damage and protect the interests of tea workers.
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