A R Sindhu
THE first-ever All India Convention of Plantation Women Workers, organised by the All India Plantation Workers Federation (AIPWF), was held in Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad, Kerala, on May 13, 2025. The convention commenced with the flag hoisting by C K Unnikrishnan, President of AIPWF. V V Baby, Secretary of the Reception Committee and CITU Wayanad District Secretary, welcomed the delegates. The proceedings were conducted by a three-member presidium comprising K Omana (Kerala), Sukhmoit Oraon (West Bengal), and Jaya (Tamilnadu).
The convention was inaugurated by K Hemalata, President of CITU, who spoke about the policies impacting the plantation sector and the need to resist the neoliberal and communal agenda of the government. She highlighted the historic role played by women workers in building the plantation workers’ movement and paid tribute to the immense sacrifices made by women leaders, including martyrs like Sagarika Soren and Sita Marandi.
Zia-ul-Alam, General Secretary of AIPWF, presented the report. He noted that except for the rubber sector, women constitute the majority of the workforce across plantations. Even in rubber, both formal and informal participation of women is on the rise. He emphasized that plantation communities are largely sustained and managed by women, who perform the most physically demanding tasks, often without any prospects for promotion. Despite this, management fails to provide basic protective gear such as aprons, gloves, raincoats, or tools – forcing workers to buy them out of their own wages.
He further pointed out that with the migration of male workers, women are increasingly burdened with heavier workloads and longer hours. He raised concerns about the debt trap created by microfinance institutions and warned of the growing influence of NGOs among plantation women workers who are engaging in anti-union propaganda. He concluded by stressing the need to build unity in action with other sections of women workers – such as anganwadi, ASHA, and mid-day meal workers – to build local-level movements.
A R Sindhu, Secretary of CITU and Convenor of the All India Coordination Committee of Working Women (CITU), spoke about the need to activate women’s sub-committees and take up local issues concerning women workers. She emphasized the importance of addressing the specific challenges faced by women activists working within unions. She also cautioned against the growing influence of identity-based politics among plantation women workers.
The convention was attended by around 100 women plantation workers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Delegates from Assam were unable to attend due to local constraints. The participants represented various plantation sectors, including tea, coffee, rubber, cashew, and spices.
Following an hour of group discussions, 13 delegates spoke in a session where their presentations were translated from their local languages. They shared a range of issues they face on the ground. One of the most pressing concerns raised was housing. The "layams" or "paddies" – as plantation housing is called – are often 150-200 years old. Many lack basic amenities such as safe drinking water, electricity, and sanitation. Maintenance is severely neglected, and even after ten generations, families continue to live in cramped, one-room units with no proper kitchen. Only in Kerala has the government initiated a housing scheme for plantation workers, and implementation has only recently begun.
Delegates described the deplorable state of dispensaries and ESI hospitals. Even in Kerala, in many estates, there is a lack doctors and access to proper medical care. They also spoke about wage disparities and gender-based division of labour, where women are assigned more tedious and hazardous tasks. Women rubber plantation workers highlighted how they are forced to carry heavy loads of rubber latex even during menstruation. Their workday begins very early, exposing them to increasing threats from wild animal attacks – wild boars, tigers, elephants –which have already led to several worker deaths.
The lack of toilets and changing rooms, particularly in plucking areas, was raised as a serious concern. Women are often denied promotions to supervisory positions, with retired male supervisors being reappointed instead. Incidents of sexual harassment and the inaction of management were also discussed. The non-availability of maternity leave and crèche facilities remains a persistent issue across all states and plantation sectors, despite legal mandates requiring plantations employing 50 or more women – including contract workers – to provide crèche services.
A new issue highlighted was the mechanisation in tea plantations. Women workers reported that the machines are unsafe and difficult to handle alone, yet they are expected to operate them. When they complained, management claimed that the union leadership had agreed to the introduction of the new machines.
Despite these challenges, delegates also shared their experiences of militant struggles, underscoring their resilience and collective strength.
In addition to workplace issues, the problems faced by women within the union also emerged during the discussions. The timing of union meetings is often unsuitable for women, and there is resistance at various levels to bringing women into leadership roles. Women are frequently excluded from negotiation processes.
Women’s sub-committees are functioning in many unions. In West Bengal, nearly all unions have active women’s sub-committees. Unions are mandated to ensure that women constitute 50 per cent of committee members from the garden level up to the state committee level.
The convention elected a 15-member Women’s Sub-Committee of AIPWF, with K Omana as Convenor and the following members: Jharna Lakra, Sukhmoit Uraon, Susma Lakra, Mangrita Soreng, Sandhiya Rai (West Bengal); Damayanti Kiro, Premika Grontho, Basanti Bara (Assam); Rathini (Tamil Nadu); Ramrathi Gowala (Tripura); Sowmya (Karnataka); and K Santha, Jessy, Sheeba Ramesh (Kerala).
The convention adopted the following Charter of Demands:
1. Equal wages for women plantation workers for equal work.
2. 180 days of paid maternity leave for plantation women workers.
3. Provision of crèche facilities in all plantations.
4. Construction of women’s changing rooms and toilets in plucking areas.
5. Promotion of women workers as supervisors, especially where women constitute the majority of the workforce.
6. Land and housing for all plantation worker families; provision of at least two-room houses with drinking water and clean toilets; and proper maintenance of housing.
7. Access to quality healthcare with well-equipped hospitals and referral services in all estates.
8. Mechanisation must ensure the occupational safety of women workers; skilled work must be fairly compensated; and paid medical leave should be granted in case of workplace injury.
9. Adequate protection from wild animal attacks; reasonable compensation for victims; and clear accountability of employers for ensuring worker safety.
10. Strict enforcement against sexual harassment at the workplace; Internal Committees must be formed in all plantations.
The convention, along with the AIPWF Working Committee meeting held the following day, resolved to launch a massive campaign on these demands and to build both independent and united struggles. It was also decided to initiate joint movements on socio-cultural issues.
The convention issued a clarion call to make the All India General Strike on 9 July 2025 a grand success in the plantation sector.
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