On March 8th, the International Women's Day, "Empowerment
of Women Workers in Tea Industry" was decided as the theme
of International Tea Day 2008 in a meeting of the National
level organisations of tea trade unions met at Circuit House,
Kolkata. The meeting also decided to form a 15 member National
Coordination Committee with Mr. P. A. Joseph, INTUC as Chairman,
and Smt. Kumari Kujur, MLA as Convenor and Mr. Ashok Ghosh,
UTUC as General Convenor.
The meeting decided to organise the international meet at
Dooars from December 13-15, 2008. The participants decided
to maximise the participation of women in this event by
organising state and garden level activities all through
the year. The meeting also constituted a Doars level Organising
Committee with Mr. Manohar Tirkey, Minister of State for
PWD as Convenor and Mr. Chitta Dey, Convenor, Coordination
Committee of Tea Plantation Workers as the President.
Some of the issues the meeting decided for further deliberation
and actions are as follows. Women constitute more than 60
per cent of workforce in Indian Tea industry. Unlike many
other industries, women workers are the permanent workers
in tea plantations and the houses are largely allotted in
their name. Households revolve around the earning capacity
of women workers. Yet, women workers continue to experience
exclusion, discrimination and explicit violations of gender
rights and human rights. Women continue to be denied leadership
role commensurate to their contribution in the sector.
The meeting specifically pointed out the need for concerted
effort towards raising consciousness on gender rights and
increasing involvement of women in all spheres.
The meeting was attended by representatives of AITUC, Coordination
Committee of Tea Plantation Workers, Defence Committee of
Tea Plantations' Unions, HMS, INTUC, UTUC and CEC.
Kolkata March 08, 2008
J John
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