Issues of Labour Rights in Darjeeling Tea Industry a Critical Assessment of the Socio Economic and Political Condition of the Labours

Abstract

The concept of labour rights as such a broad concept which requires larger perspective to examine. However, the present study is limited to tea garden labour and their rights with special reference to Darjeeling tea industry. Tea plantation in Darjeeling hills began in 1840s and early 1850s. From the mid-1850s, the tea plantation occupied an important place as it began to produce for commercial purposes. Now, the planters vision was to develop tea plantation across Darjeeling hills. The development of tea plantation not only require large track of land but also need of the workers realised. In this connection, the planters with the help of the sardar encouraged and brought the nepali people mainly from eastern Nepal to work in tea garden. newlineAs this study focuses on the rights of tea garden workers, effort has been to examine the concept, meaning and definitions to the aforesaid concept. The attempt has also been made to link the rights of the workers with the basic facilities as enshrined in the Plantation Labour Act 1951. The basic amenities are housing, education, health, sanitation, creche, canteen and recreational, etc. On the basis of availability of these facilities, the living standard of the workers can be understood. Now, effort has been to connect the rights of the workers with the enjoyment of basic amenities. But the most important is who will provide such facilities to the workers? In this regard, the role of the management is important. newlineApart from socio-economic conditions of the workers, the study also focuses on the political condition of the workers. The political condition of the workers is understood here, in terms of their participation in trade union and other political activities. newline