GANGTOK, : Darjeeling MP Raju Bista on Wednesday led a delegation of leaders
from Darjeeling to meet Governor CV Anand Bose to request his urgent
intervention regarding the West Bengal government’s notification related to tea
garden land diversification.
The
February 7 notification permits tea garden owners to divert up to 30% of land
previously used for tea cultivation for non-tea purposes, such as hotels, hydro-dams,
and commercial use.
A
press release informs that the delegation has raised serious concerns about the
policy's legality and its potential negative impact on tea workers, indigenous
communities, and the stability of the region’s tea industry.
“We
have highlighted how the policy violates several State and Central laws,
including the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955, the Tea Act, 1953, and the
West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953. By permitting the diversion of land
for non-tea purposes, the policy undermines the legal framework designed to
preserve tea cultivation and protect the rights of tea workers,” said the
Darjeeling MP in a press statement.
Bista
maintained that the policy also threatens the livelihoods of over 250,000
permanent tea workers and nearly 1 million seasonal workers, majority of whom
belong to marginalized communities.
“We
are concerned that the policy could displace indigenous communities in
Darjeeling, the Terai, and Dooars regions, and strip tea workers of their
ancestral land Parja Patta rights. Furthermore, the policy poses a serious risk
to workers' constitutional rights, specifically the right to life and
livelihood, as enshrined under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. By
diverting land that has been used for generations to sustain tea cultivation,
the policy threatens the job security and basic rights of tea workers, pushing
them further into poverty and insecurity,” said Bista.
Another
significant concern is the procedural irregularities surrounding the introduction
of this policy.
The
Darjeeling delegation pointed out that the policy was announced without due
legislative approval or consultation with stakeholders, including tea workers,
unions, the Tea Board of India, or local elected representatives from Darjeeling
hills, Terai and Dooars region. This lack of consultation and transparency
undermines democratic processes, and ignores the voices of those most affected
by the policy, they submitted.
“The
tea industry is a key economic driver in North Bengal, providing employment to
hundreds of thousands of workers. We are fearful that diverting 30% of tea
garden land for non-tea purposes could destabilize the industry, reduce tea
production, and exacerbate unemployment and poverty in the region. The policy
risks not only the livelihoods of workers but, also the broader socio-economic
stability of the North Bengal region,” said the Darjeeling MP.
In
light of these concerns, the Darjeeling delegation urged the Governor to
intervene and prevent the implementation of this policy, which is legally and
constitutionally flawed.
We
have requested a thorough review of the policy’s legality and its compliance
with the relevant laws, and emphasized the need to prioritize the welfare of
tea workers, ensuring that their rights to life and livelihood are protected
under the Constitution, informed Bista.
It
was informed that the Governor assured to take the necessary action to
safeguard the interests of tea workers and the tea industry, preventing
irreversible harm to both.
