An Enquiry Into the Living Conditions of Tea Garden Workers of Bangladesh: a Case Study of Khan Tea Estate
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An Enquiry into the Living Conditions of Tea Garden Workers of Bangladesh: A Case Study of Khan Tea Estate A Dissertation By Md. Afrazur Rahman ID No. 14272011 Submitted to the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development BRAC University Dhaka In partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of MA in Governance and Development BRAC Institute of Governance and Development BRAC University, Dhaka August, 2016 1 BRAC Institute of Governance and Development BRAC University Savar, Dhaka. An Enquiry into the Living Conditions of Tea Garden Workers of Bangladesh: A Case Study of Khan Tea Estate A Dissertation By Md. Afrazur Rahman ID No. 14272011 Approved as to style and content by Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed Supervisor Commissioner Anti-corruption Commission, Bangladesh & Visiting Professor, BRAC University, Dhaka BRAC Institute of Governance and Development BRAC University, Savar, Dhaka 2 Statement of the Candidate I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. Md. Afrazur Rahman ID No. 14272011 I authorise the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development and BRAC University to lend the thesis to other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scholarly research. Md. Afrazur Rahman ID No. 14272011 I further authorise the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development and BRAC University to reproduce the thesis by photocopying or by other means, in total or in part, at the request of other institutions for the purpose of scholarly research. Md. Afrazur Rahman ID No. 14272011 3 Supervisor Authorization I hereby recommend and certify that this dissertation “An Enquiry into the Living Conditions of Tea Garden Workers of Bangladesh: A Case Study of Khan Tea Estate” is a research work conducted by Md Afrazur Rahman, MAGD Batch #6, student ID-14272011, under my supervision for partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of MA in Governance and Development (MAGD), BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, BRAC University, Dhaka. Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed Commissioner Anti-corruption Commission Bangladesh & Visiting Professor BRAC University, Dhaka 4 Abstract Tea garden workers are an integral part of the agro-based tea industry of Bangladesh. They play vital role in tea production of the country. This study has made an attempt to explore the living conditions of the tea garden workers of Bangladesh including their wage structure, literacy, and health and sanitation status. In addition, this paper outlines the basic infrastructure and geo-topography of a tea estate. A case study of Khan Tea Estate of Jaintiapur Upazila in Sylhet has taken to get an in-depth idea of the tea garden workers' livelihood. Field survey, personal interview and observation were employed to collect data. A 100 tea garden workers were interviewed in this purpose. The Khan Tea Estate has an area of 638.72 hectares of land. Forty seven per cent of this land is used for tea cultivation. Rest of the land is occupied by paddy land, natural forest, rubber plantation, office and housing infrastructures and low-lying areas. The annual tea production of the garden is from 340,000 kg. to 420,000 kg. The Estate has a population of about 2000. There are five labourers' villages (labour lines) inside the estate. A total of 760 labourers are working in the garden. Of them 520 are permanent workers and 240 temporary workers. Main works of the labourers are plucking tea leaf, raising seedlings, planting and constant care of young plants and earth work etc. There are 15 different castes of people among the workers of the Khan Tea Estate. In this research, it is found that 74 per cent of the workers are at the age of 20-45 years. About 92 per cent households consist of 1 to 6 family members. Fifty seven per cent of the workers have their family member from 4 to 6 persons. About 18 per cent live in big families consisting of 7 to 9 members. Sixty eight per cent of the workers are satisfied about their accommodation provided by the authority. Eighteen per cent of the workers are living in pucca houses and 74 per cent has kutcha type of houses which are made up of mud wall and tin roof. Temporary workers are provided with bamboo and tin-made houses. Though the workers have access to clean drinking water, the sanitation facilities are fragile in the estate. Thirty one per cent of the respondents have no toilet at all. Sixty two per cent households have access to electricity. 5 This study reveals that literacy rate among the workers is slightly less than the national rate. Sixty one per cent of the workers are literate while the national literacy rate is about 65 per cent. Out of 61 percent literate workers, only 12 percent have studied in secondary schools, 23 per cent completed primary education and 26 percent workers have rudimentary literacy. Literacy rate of female workers is far less than their male counterparts. Among the illiterate workers, 65 per cent are female and 35 per cent are male. But in recent days, both male and female literacy is increasing. The workers' children have access to primary education. Enrolment in the primary school is about hundred per cent. But most of them cannot continue secondary and tertiary education because of poverty. However, literacy rate is increasing among the new generation. The workers get primary healthcare and free medicine provided by the authority. This research has found that the daily wage of the workers is not sufficient. It is less than one dollar per day. Most of the workers expressed dissatisfaction over the daily wage. In terms of wage and ration, the tea garden workers are living below the poverty line. Weak health and malnutrition is widespread among the labourers. It is urgent to increase their minimum daily wages at least from Tk.120 to Tk. 200. Other components of measuring poverty indicate a good side of the tea garden workers' livelihood. They have access to job, healthcare, clean water and electricity facilities. Every worker has a house provided by the authority. Sixty per cent of the workers are given cultivable land by the owner of the estate. Ninety per cent of the respondents have two or more earning members in the family. Most of the families domesticate cow, goat and pet birds in their homes. In the study, seven per cent of the respondents have mentioned that one of their family members is working outside the tea garden. The interaction between the tea garden workers and the mainstream society is increasing gradually over the time. The tea garden workers are coming closer to the mainstream society through increase literacy and awareness. Extensive use of mobile phone opens a new avenue for interaction and communication of the workers. This paper also reports some cultural and recreational aspects of the tea garden workers and puts some recommendations for the betterment of the living conditions of the tea garden workers of Bangladesh. The fulfilment of their basic rights is vital for the sustainable development of the industry. In addition, the tea workers' community has provided a social outlet for inclusion and diversity in the society. 6 Acknowledgement This note of acknowledgement deserves to be started with expressing my heartiest thanks and gratitude to the tea garden workers of the Khan Tea Estate, from whom I collected data. Certainly those 100 tea garden workers will never go through this paper but they are the ones who made immense contribution by providing data about their everyday livelihood. Without their contribution, the writing of this dissertation would have never been possible. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude and thanks to my Supervisor Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed, Commissioner, Anti-corruption Commission, Bangladesh and Visiting Professor, BIGD, BRAC University who has given guidance and constant support to complete the work. He has inspired me to stay with the tea garden workers to get insight and real life experiences from the workers. He called me time to time over phone during my field survey and instructed me to find out different dimensions of the workers' livelihood. I had several discussions with him on the research topic. He came up with fruitful academic guidance in those meetings. I have enjoyed every session with him for his warm and cordial instructions that showed the right way to proceed on my work. My supervisor has gone through my thesis draft between the lines and has provided me enormous opportunity to improve it. Without his guidance and suggestions this paper would have never been possible. I am also indebted to Major General Azmal Kabir, Chairman, Bangladesh Tea Board, who gave me a kind audience to his office in Chittagong and has provided me insightful advice on the topic prior to start my work. For this purpose, I have also travelled to Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) in Srimangal and met the officials of BTRI and Project Development Unit (PDU) of Bangladesh Tea Board there. They have provided me valuable information on the tea industry of Bangladesh by giving latest publications about the industry. I express my profound gratitude and thanks to the concern officials of BTRI and PDU for their kind assistance. 7 I express my gratitude to the authority of the Khan Tea Estate, specially the manager of the estate Mr. Arif Uddin Mahmud for his cordial acceptance of doing research on the garden. The Head Clerk of the estate Mr. Bishu Kumar Chowdhury gave me access to the official documents and records which has helped me tremendously to write this thesis. Furthermore, I must thank Dr. Bishyoprio Das, Medical Officer of the Labour Welfare Centre for his cooperation. I want to give thanks to Mr.