Description:
Tea is considered as the “Green Gold” and “Pride of Assam.” The Tea Industry in Assam contributes significantly to the State Economy as well as the National Economy. Though, the Tea Industry is developing by leaps and bounds in Assam, the conditions of the tea plantation labourers is deplorable. Despite, various constitutional provisions as well as regulatory mechanisms both at the Central as well as State levels, these labourers lack access to basic amenities such as healthcare, education, drinking water, housing, child care, maternal care and accident cover. The first chapter deals with the ‘Introduction’. The second chapter discusses the historical background regarding the establishment of the tea industry in Assam, and the circumstances under which these plantation labourers were brought from different parts of India during the Colonial Regime. The third chapter deals with interpretation of the various international conventions regarding labour rights such as ILO, UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR, CEDAW, CRC, etc. The fourth chapter deals with the analysis and assessment of the various constitutional provisions regarding the rights of labour, pertinent provisions of the regulatory mechanism at the Central Level i.e., Plantation Labour Act of 1951, the establishment of the Tea Board under the Tea Act of 1953 and its objectives, functions, composition, organizational structure, administrative structure, the tea fund, etc. This chapter also deals with formation of Indian Tea Association and the Tea Research Association. The fifth chapter deals with a detailed discussion on the present condition of the tea plantation labourers in Assam vis-a-vis the Oxfam Report, how the Assam Plantations Labour Rules of 1956 has given an actual shape to the Plantation Labour Act, 1951 and the initiatives taken by Assam Government for welfare of the tea plantation labourers in Assam. The sixth chapter deals with the judicial pronouncements with regard to the rights of the tea plantation labourers in India.