Consultant picture | Photograph supplied by: Getty Pictures
Guwahati
The Consultative Committee of Planters Associations (CCPA) has set sure situations for the proposed distribution of tea property land pattas (possession rights) amongst plantation employees in Assam.
On November 25, the Assam authorities tabled the Assam Land Tenure Fixation (Modification) Invoice, 2025, which goals to take away labor strains from the ‘auxiliary land’ class of tea estates. It will guarantee “land safety” for 3.33 lakh tea employee households throughout 825 tea estates within the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned.
A labor line is a row of residences for plantation employees in a specific part of a tea plantation.
The CCPA, which covers tea, espresso, rubber and cardamom planters, identified that the Assam Plantation Labor Guidelines exclude the designation of backyard land to be allotted as ‘pattas’. It additionally mentioned that employee quarters and line areas are a part of the statutory amenities mandated underneath the Plantation Labor Act, 1951 and can’t be transformed into transferable land possession.
Planters’ organizations mentioned the state authorities had acquired huge tracts of land from tea estates underneath the Assam Land Tenure Ceiling Act, 1956, permitting these estates to carry land just for particular cultivation of tea and ancillary functions (factories, housing, hospitals, and so forth.).
“…the land at present obtainable for tea plantations is the residual land after surrendering the excess land. Subsequently, additional acquisitions can have a adverse influence on the long-term viability of the tea sector…” the CCPA mentioned.
Nevertheless, if property is acquired, compensation have to be in accordance with the appropriate to honest compensation and transparency of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The proposed modification gives for compensation, however on the idea of its related provisions.
welfare burden
The CCPA additional mentioned that tea property house owners ought to be free of offering welfare amenities reminiscent of water provide, sanitation and electrical energy in areas acquired for distributing pattas to employees. These amenities type a part of the every day wages of tea backyard employees, who obtain a mean money allowance of ₹250 per day.
A gaggle of plantation house owners argued that tea plantation house owners ought to be allowed to scale back their welfare burden as a result of expropriation of their land.
The invoice, which might make tea plantation employees house owners of the tea plantation land on which they stay, is believed to have been tabled within the 126-member Home of Commons with a watch to a parliamentary vote in 2026. Tea plantation employees are primarily Adivasis, or “tea tribes,” who’re a robust voting pressure within the tea-growing areas of central and jap Assam.
Adivasis, as soon as perceived because the Congress’ vote financial institution, have change into a significant component behind the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering’s (BJP) rule in Assam since 2016. They’re among the many six communities searching for Scheduled Tribe standing, threatening to derail the NDA authorities if their calls for will not be met.
