Waruna Padmasiri

Despite contributing immensely to the development of the country and the national economy for decades, the people working in the tea plantations remain under extreme poverty and heavily marginalized with alarming rates of child and maternal malnutrition.

These are among many other issues faced by the plantation community highlighted in the book titled ?Red Colour of Tea? written by P. P. Sivaprgasm and Dr. A. S. Chandrabose in what has been termed an activist piece of research by Prof Tudor Silva of Peradeniya University. The book was launched on January 24 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

Younger generation

Co-author Sivapragasm, in his welcoming address said that as a son of two estate workers he understands many of the issues in that community. A few generations ago when asked about ?what are the issues that you are facing?? people would have said ?housing, working conditions, health facilities, citizenship etc?. During the research for the book the common theme among the views expressed by the younger generation was ?recognize us as human beings. Give us our human dignity?.

One of the main reasons for the younger generation leaving the plantations is this much broader issue of human dignity. It?s not that the other issues do not exist. But the awareness of the younger generation and their view point has changed.

Sivapragasm highlighted that despite the 30 years of war, Nuwara eliya has a higher rate of poverty than Mullaithivu. However only a fraction of the people are receiving government assistance through programmes such as Samurdhi.

Human rights

He said that even some of the fundamental human rights of women, right of reproduction is being determined by the estate managers rather than the women decides the size of the family. Thousands of women are having sterilization operations in the estates. However, since the permission form is signed or has a thumb print on it, it?s difficult to prove how much pressure there is on the women to have these operations.

National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara, the chief guest at the event said that the lives of the plantation workers are still owned by the management. Public servants, even the police sometimes play a role in this dehumanisation by asking ?Where is the letter from the superintendent??

Estate sector

He said that a programme of mobile services providing birth certificates and national identity cards in the war affected areas to those who have lost theirs has already begun. At the discretion of the commissioner, identity cards can be provided even without a birth certificate. Minister Nanayakkara said that government services must be provided to all citizens, especially to the most vulnerable people. While the Samurdhi programme will be extended to the Northern Province starting from this year, the minister called for better coverage of assistance in the estate sector as well.

Prof. Tudor Silva making the first review of the publication said that the intention of the publication is not to merely be an academic piece of writing but to bring about positive changes and have an impact on the lives of the people.

He said that over the 150 year history of the tea industry in Sri Lanka, a lot of things have changed around the world and in our own country. However, the living conditions of the estate worker has had little change.

This is despite as a country Sri Lanka being ranked relatively high in the Human Development Index.

Professor commended the use of the term Indian Origin Tamils as opposed to calling the plantation workers Indian Tamils who have been in the country for over four generations. Since a lot of people have moved out of the plantation sector and the areas of their traditional abode, the latest census figures taken in 2001 might be under representative of the true size of the community.

Domestic violence

Though this is a positive occurrence since the people are seeing themselves as Sri Lankans as opposed to Indian Tamils. The flip side of this is that as a political force, the smaller the size the less influence they will have.

The book highlights the reality of the wages received by plantation workers. Although the management argues that if the workers fulfill certain conditions they will be able to make in excess of Rs 10,000 per month, in reality the actual income of the worker will be closer to Rs 5,000 per month. There are various practical obstacles being placed before plantation workers.

There is however progressive changes in the sector. An increasingly large number are working outside the plantations.

The industry is having to compete with other employers. The education level has also improved. There is an educated generation of plantation youths.

A number of internal issues such as domestic violence and alcohol abuse were not sufficiently addressed in the book according to Prof Silva. Co-author Dr. Chandrabose delivering the vote of thanks accepted the criticism of Prof Silva and vowed to research into those issues not covered in the book in the future. He also eluded to the fact that the rate of people leaving the plantation work could create the demise of the industry in another 10 to 15 years.

Read more:
‘Give us our human dignity’