40YRS ON, WOES OF LANKAN REPATRIATES IN TN CONTINUE

Papathi (50) is one of 3,850 permanent women-workers who have been provided with employment and housing by the Tamil Nadu Tea Plantation Corporation (TANTEA), a State government-controlled organisation.

Papathi is one of those repatriated from Sri Lanka under the 1964 bilateral agreement, popularly called the SirimavoShastri Pact and named after the then Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka and India — Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Lal Bahadur Shastri.

In October 1964 and January 1974, the governments of India and Sri Lanka signed two agreements to settle the issue of 9.75 lakh stateless persons living in Sri Lanka

In October 1964 and January 1974, the governments of India and Sri Lanka signed two agreements to settle the issue of 9.75 lakh stateless persons living in Sri Lanka then.

mum wages and Rs.67.04 towards dearness allowance, which is subject to quarterly revision.

Another official says that though the Corporation had incurred losses last year, it paid 20 per cent bonus and exgratia to its employees, as per the direction of the State Government.

(The Hindu) then.

It was for the purpose of providing livelihood opportunities to persons like Papathi that the TANTEA was established in August 1975.

Two members in each family of repatriates are given permanent employment besides seasonal employment to their dependents.

The repatriate-workers are living in 2,513 houses spread over seven administrative divisions of the Corporation in the Nilgiris district. Of them, the division of Coonoor has 251 houses and the highest number of houses – 454 – is in Pandiar, about 70 km from here.

Admitting that the housing conditions of the workers should be improved, a sum of about Rs.70 lakhs has been earmarked for taking up capital works such as residential buildings, improvement of water supply and roads, all of which are aimed at benefiting the workers directly.

Another recent move of the government is to increase the incentive for plucking every kilogram of tea leaves over and above the minimum quantity of 25 kg.

As regards the pay, the present rate [effective April 1, 2012] is Rs.145.04 per day that includes Rs.78 towards mini-