The Hindu : Kerala News : Readers' Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Readers' Mail

Tea industry

Sir, — This is in response to the article on tea industry (January 24). The economy of the State is dependent mainly on plantation crops, but they are getting crumbled for one reason or the other.

It is sad to note that tea plantations are being abandoned by managements by putting the blame on labourers. The managements follow this tactic, other than lock-out, to escape the payment of subsistence allowance and Provident Fund contributions. This has serious repercussions on the economy in two ways: One, this results in natural resources going waste; and two, the labour force, whether skilled or unskilled, getting wasted.

The tea industry can be revitalised by modern management, notwithstanding the competitive challenges thrown up by major tea producing countries such as China and Vietnam. No production field is without competitions. Abandoning or lockout is not a panacea for cutthroat competition or labour problems.

The managements should evolve a policy of adopting modern technology in the production and processing of tea. Discussions could be made with labour unions and their wholehearted support requested for the rejuvenation of the industry.

The managements and the labour force should not move in opposite poles. Problems must be discussed and solutions should be found. The plantation labour work in extreme weather conditions and they are not fully happy with the limited income they get. Kerala is known for its high living standards and this should be taken into account when amenities are provided. There are labour rules, the minimum wages Act, plantation rules, etc., which should be honoured from both sides. The labour should work sincerely to have maximum production. The managements should look after both the plantations and the labour. Synchronised efforts by both could help capture the world tea market.

G. Muraleedharan,

Thiruvananthapuram.

Water scarcity

Sir, — Kerala received normal rainfall in 2004. But drinking water shortage is felt in rural and municipal areas alike. The city of Kochi and panchayats in Thrissur district are examples. The root cause of water scarcity is the attitude of people's representatives, from the panchayat to Parliament.

Even with its financial constraints, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is implementing various development works in the State. But people's representatives are not at all interested in the schemes. There is a water committee in each Assembly constituency with the MLA as chairman and a KWA engineer as convener. But these bodies seldom meet.

The book `Kudivellam' has been made available to all the MLAs by the Speaker. But they lack water literacy to understand it.

The Thrissur-based Water Literacy Mission conducts classes with visual aid at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration in Mulamkunnathukavu and in schools and colleges. Will the Speaker and the Water Resources Minister allow some funds for promotional activities on the drinking water front?

T.N.N. Bhattathiripad,

Thrissur.

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