Presentation on Protection of Child Rights in Tea Plantations Presented by Samir Roy Executive Director, IPARW, Chairman, Defence Committee for Plantation Workers Rights, National Secretary , Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Chairman, National Federation of Small Tea Growers India (NFSTGI)

Institute for Plantation Agricultural & Rural Workers (IPARW) DISHA-IPARW Health & Multicrop Experimental Centre Jalpaiguri – 735101, West Bengal email: iparwind@gmail.com , nfstgind@gmail.com

Vision and Mission of IPARW To combat underlying causes of poverty and social injustice and bring about sustainable growth and all round development through the process of empowerment of the poor and down trodden plantation, agricultural and rural population in order that they can lead a life with dignity and security.

Major activities of IPARW Health & Health Related Issues Mother & Child Care & Child Rights Orientation & mobilization of Women & Youth Workers Right & Responsibility Environment Awareness & Occupational Health & Safety Working on the Issues of HIV /AIDS, Trafficking, Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation

Major activities of IPARW Training for Sustainability through SHG’s for unemployed youth & women & Small Tea Growers through multicrop experimental & vocational training centre’s. Produced Documentary Film on Good Agricultural Practices in Tea Cultivation.

IPARW in the Field of Child Rights… In the year 1986, Institute for Plantation Agricultural and Rural Workers entered in the field of elimination of Child Labour. In the Tea Plantation Industry in India, both Southern, North & North Eastern Tea Estates. Specially in the States of West Bengal (including Darjeeling Hills), Sikkim, Assam, Tripura & Tamil Nadu. IPARW started survey of engagement of child labour in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura & Sikkim and taken up the issue with the respective state government to make them aware about the international pressure to ban the products using the child. IPARW take up the issue with the Ministry of Labour & Ministry of Commerce & Industry Govt. of India. IPARW taken up the issue with the verious employers & worker organisations about the child rights & elimination of child labour from the tea plantation industry & persue them continuesly for main streaming , to generate awareness amongst the parents of the working children’s .

IPARW in the Field of Child Rights… International Labour Organization (ILO) selected IPARW for the elimination of Child Labour in Tea Plantation Industry in East & North Eastern States. IPARW started working against the practice of provision of child labour in tea plantation industry which was established long back through the tripartite agreement in the various tea growing states in India. IPARW started informal schools in all the tea estates under the project, some of those schools are functioning as a regular formal school now.

IPARW in the Field of Child Rights… ILO - IPEC selected IPARW for technical supports for lunching the programme of elimination of Child Labour from the Tea Plantation Industry at Tanzania & Kenya in Africa. IPARW successfully conducted the task provided by the ILO-IPEC. The German foundation FES/ICFTU selected IPARW for social audit of carpet industry in Nepal. ILO/IPEC engaged “ORG-Marge” to evaluate the work of IPARW .According to the ORG-Marge the work conducted by the IPARW was excellent & get highest score. IPARW working in this field of capacity building, education & health through the Mother Clubs and steering Committees formed in the Tea Estate.

Child Right Situation In Tea garden Child Right to Survival:- Assam State is ranking worst in Infant and maternal mortality and this is due to the poor performance in Tea garden area by the State and Tea management. High percentage of Child anemia, adolescent and pregnancy anemia in tea garden areas of the Assam resulted towards mortality and morbidity. Lack of coordination between the State and tea management in implementation of NHM at tea garden areas leading towards non implementation of Schemes in effective manner.

Situation…. Child Right to development… Tea Garden schools are far from achieving the target of 100% enrollment and 100% retention in primary school. There are low transition rate from primary to upper primary school in tea garden area of the Assam. There are high rate of drop out children from the Government primary schools in Tea garden areas. RTE norms of infrastructure and quality education in respect of teachers training, extra curriculum activity are lacking in Tea Garden areas of Assam.

Situation… Child Right to Protection…. Assam is now increasing in incident of child trafficking and mostly from Tea garden areas, This is happening because educational institutions are not providing space to the children to continue education in schools. In the name of elopement marriage, there is rampant child marriage and that leads to early motherhood. Most of the child from tea garden areas are engaged in domestic work in outside the tea garden area.

Recommendation State RTE rules should be amended in conformity with RTE Act. In regard to the recruitment of schools teachers, State should follow the norms of educational qualification of teachers. There is need of regular training follow up with the school teachers of the tea garden. Need to follow the norms of one LP school within the radius of 1 KM.

Reco…conti…. NHM needs to be universalized in all tea plantations. Appointment of lady doctors is required in tea gardens. Management should sensitize the workers about necessity of good health. Assam Medical College and hospital should come with the special wings of community medicine for tea garden management. Health department and the Tea Management should work for health behavioural change aspects in tea garden area. Supplementary nutrition programme for pregnant and lactating mothers is required and the management should supervise and coordinate it. In Tea districts, NRC (nutritional Rehabilitation centre) must come with active role to play for reducing the malnutrition among the children of tea garden.

Recom…conti.. ICPS scheme should be implemented in tea garden with proper review of the project. Tea Management should organize the CPC for all adolescent boys and girls. Child protection Committee guideline must be reviewed in context to Tea garden area. For every tea garden there must of Tea garden Child Protection committee and these committee must be engaged with the Panchayat level child protection committee and DCPU.

THANKS