A lost tourism boost for estate workers

 

“The company was also dead against opening workers’ quarters to the gaze of outsiders” said Rupesh Kumar, the state Responsible Tourism coordinator. 

 

Ostensibly to preempt any further moves by the Department, the company itself began a ‘tea trail’ package for tourists, all the revenues of which are now taken solely by the company. 

 

The Responsible Tourism proposal was a one-day ‘plantation visit’ package that was designed to give the tourist an all-round understanding of the working of a tea estate. 

 

It involved a visit of modern and traditional factories, a chance to be with women workers as they go about plucking tender tea leaves, and also a visit to the labour quarters and the unique temples of the Tamil workers. The company and the workers were to share the revenue, with a higher share going to the workers. 

 

“There was also the hope that tourists, watching women workers pluck tea leaves with subtle dexterity, will be prompted to tip the workers handsomely,” Rupesh said.  

 

However, the proposal had to be shelved following the objections raised by the company. “There was no point in going ahead if no revenue was to be shared with workers. Repsonsible Tourism is all about distributing profits to the source community,” Mr Rupesh said. 

 

The reluctance of the company to allow public anywhere near the quarters of labourers was not a surprise. These rotting places have just one room and a kitchen.

 

There are dwellings were even two or three families of four or five members each cramp. Their roofs are made of asbestos sheets, a carcinogenic material.