France 24 reports starvation deaths of Assam tea workers
After the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) released reports on deaths of workers due to starvation, malnutrition and lack health care in the Bhuvan valley tea estate of south Assam, many national and international media groups along with some rights groups including the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) have taken up the matter and in their own ways attempted to address the situation. Latest one is a report that has been broadcast today by FRANCE 24 Television, an international news channel based in Paris, on the basis of the findings of an independent investigation undertaken by its correspondents Natacha Butler and Vikram Singh. They found that people are still dying due to malnutrition and several others are suffering from diseases related to chronic malnutrition due to low wages and absence of medical facilities in violations of laws passed by the Indian parliament as well as international human rights laws.
The dark side of India's tea industry
Indians are the world's biggest tea drinkers and producers. Half of the country's entire output comes from the north-eastern state of Assam, but the conditions for many of those who work on its tea plantations are appalling. Workers earn well below the minimum wage and malnutrition is also common. Laws about facilities and conditions on tea estates exist, but many don't comply. Our correspondents Natacha Butler and Vikram Singh went to visit one such estate in the south of Assam.
The video report and discussion can be watched athttp://www.france24.com/en/20120518-india-tea-estates-assam-malnutrition-workers-rights
Waliullah Ahmed Laskar (Wali)
Barak Human Rights Protection Committee,
(http://bhrpc.wordpress.com)
15, Panjabari Road, Darandha, Six Mile,
Guwahati-781037, Assam, India
Cell: +919401942234
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