The Perpetual Struggle Of Tea Workers To Seek Rights For Their Own Lands Not Only For Living : Bista

Office of Raju Bista
Press Release
25th of July, 2022

Speaking under the Rule 377 of the Parliament, I urged the Union Government to take necessary action for granting Parja Patta Land Rights to the Tea Garden and Cinchona Garden workers from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region.

I began my speech by remembering our Brave-hearts of the 107 Bn Territorial Army (11 Gorkha Rifles), who laid down their lives in the service of our nation in Manipur recently.

I then drew the attention of the house to the 171st report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, titled "Issues Affecting the Indian Tea Industry especially in the Darjeeling region", and informed them that the Committee has found serious problems afflicting the tea industry in the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region. Main among them being the denial of Parja Patta land rights for the workers, who have toiled in these gardens for generations.

I quoted from the report that “The Committee notes with dismay the plight and deprivation of the tea workers and deplores the feudalistic set up in the region to alienate tea workers from their basic land rights despite seven decades of independence” unquote.

I further quoted, “the perpetual struggle of tea workers to seek rights for their own lands not only for living but even for burying their dead family members is unfortunate and saddening” unquote.

I informed the Parliament, that the Committee has therefore recommended that “a specific legislation needs to be enacted which recognizes the rights and ownership of tea workers to their ancestral lands and resources.”

I have therefore requested the Union Govt to enact a law which will guarantee Parja Patta rights for our Tea Garden and Cinchona Garden workers through the enactment of the Plantation Rights Act, on the lines of Forest Rights Act (2006) to ensure justice for tea and cinchona garden workers.

The TMC government in West Bengal may try and continue to deny our families their right to Parja Patta, and I know our struggle for justice will be long, but I am also confident that with all of your support and solidarity, we will prevail and our sisters and brothers who toil in the tea gardens and cinchona gardens will have the Parja Patta of their lands granted to them. I assure you all, I won't rest till Parja Patta is granted to all our tea and cinchona garden families.

Raju Bista
Member of Parliament, Darjeeling and
National Spokesperson, BJP

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