Trade unions in West Bengal including IUF affiliated Progressive Plantation Workers’ Union, Nowera Nuddy have been campaigning for housing rights for people in the tea plantations for many years. As a result, on 1st August 2023, the West Bengal government issued notification to grant “pattas” (land for houses) to people living in tea plantations in the six districts in the North Bengal region under the “Scheme for distributing homestead pattas among landless tea gardens labourers in North Bengal”. The implementation of the notification started in February, 2024.
This is a historic victory for tea plantation workers and their families, who have been living on the same land for 4 generations but still had no rights to their homes. Workers houses are treated as a condition for their employment and is understood as a form of wage-in kind that justifies low wages, an instrument to control their lives.[1]
International human rights law recognizes everyone’s right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate housing. Access to adequate housing can be a precondition for the enjoyment of several human rights, including the rights to work, health, social security, vote, privacy or education.[2] Not having right to their house and the constant threat of forced eviction interferes with workers’ ability to exercise their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Women workers planning the implementation of housing rights
“We have always had uncertainty about where we belong. We have lived in the company house since our forefathers but were made to feel like we are not from here. We live with a fear that we can be thrown out. We are always uncertain to make any changes to the house, as some company managers allow but some don’t” said Sister Sabitri Lohar, Women’s Water, Sanitation and Health Committee member at Nowera Nuddy tea estate.
Winning housing rights is significant as it provides security to people in the plantations, reduces vulnerability and a step away from plantation paternalism, where everything from clean drinking water to repairing toilets to healthcare and education is perceived as services and care provided by the management at the will of management. Workers didn’t have decision making power regarding their lives and moreover they didn’t have any certainty to plan their future.
What makes the victory even more significant is that the unions will be part of the official committees that will conduct survey and finalize beneficiaries, the house deed will also have women’s name in it and in families with single or widow women, it will solely be in their name, family with only women head will be given priorities and the deed can only be heritable and cannot be transferred.
On March 10, 2024, the Women’s Committee at Nowera Nuddy has taken a decision to conduct their own survey, mapping and work together with the responsible government officials to ensure that workers and their families get access to housing rights. Women’s Committee is also running an education campaign to explain the details of the notification.
Women workers discussing the importance of housing rights in reducing vulnerability for women by using International Women’s Day 2024 posters.
“This is a huge win for us and for our children’s future. If the house is in our name no one can ask us to leave. With this we can link with other government programs to build our houses. We can build it as our own home.” said Sister Kapila Lohar, Women’s Women’s Water, Sanitation and Health Committee member.
“We have done surveys for access to water and sanitation in the housing lines, we know how many families live in each housing line. We will do a similar survey for houses and will accompany the government officials, so no one’s name is left behind.” said Sister Parbait Lohar, Women’s Women’s Water, Sanitation and Health Committee member.
Women’s Water, Sanitation and Health Committee won reinstatement for Sister Behani Oraon (on the right). Sis. Behani, a 45 years old widow, worked in the plantation for 25 years as a permanent worker was suspended for constructing her house.
Worker’s current housing condition
Worker’s current housing conditions
[1] In tea plantations, housing is provided by the management of the company, that has leased the plantation from the government, only to permanent workers, but when a permanent worker retires or dies, someone in the family has to replace them as permanent worker. This system is called “Badli” work. So at least one member in the family must work as permanent worker in the plantation to keep living in that house or they will be threatened or forced to vacate the house. This system hinders in workers and their family’s ability to access human rights.
[2] Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, The Right to Adequate Housing: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Publications/FS21_rev_1_Housing_en.pdf