Landslides highlight pathetic living conditions of plantation workers

The landslide in Pettimudi Rajamala in Idukki district of Kerala on August 7 which has so far claimed 51 lives, has brought into sharp focus the pathetic and pitiable living conditions of plantation workers.

The cluster houses (layams) in which most plantation workers live are 80 to 90 years old. In other words, these dwelling units are as old as the tea estates in the area.

As many as 30 rooms of the residential cluster or layams of tea estate workers were buried under the debris following the landslide on Friday. Each building comprises ten dwelling units and each unit has a room, a kitchen and work area.

But these dwelling units are in a deplorable condition.

Though it sounds okay, there’s nothing good about these layams. Most residential units are nearly 80 to 90 years old (as old as the estates themselves) and obviously in extremely deplorable conditions.

The estate owners and companies responsible for maintenance, rarely carry out such repair works in the dwelling units.

These workers have been pleading with successive governments and estate owners to construct new structures replacing the

80-90 year old dilapidated buildings.

Last year the Kerala government announced a special housing scheme for plantation workers under which each family owning land would get

`4 lakh and apartments would be constructed for workers who do not own land.

Many believe that the scheme which has been included in the government’s flagship housing programme – The Life Mission – if implemented in right earnest would ensure safe and livable houses for the workers.

Of the 70,000 plantation workers in Kerala, Idukki district where the tragedy occurred, alone accounts for 50,000 workers. Majority of the workers (more than 60 per cent) belong to the SC/ST category who are landless and homeless.

A recent survey by the labour department had pointed out that as many as 32,591 workers in Kerala were homeless as well as landless. Clearly the scheme is crucial for these workers.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala who visited the mishap site had stated that the dwelling units were in bad condition and needed to be replaced with strong structure immediately.

The low daily wages of the plantation workers is another problem that needs to be sorted out on priority.

At present the daily wages of tea plantation workers is `351 which is much less than the prevailing daily wages of `600 in Kerala. However, the wages are higher compared to West Bengal and Assam where the workers get `150 to `160 daily.

Many believe that it’s high time the government resolved these issues on priority.