TIRUNELVELI: Manjolai tea estate workers who wish to settle in the plains will be provided with free land and houses in villages or free flats in apartments located in Tirunelveli or Pappankulam, announced Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Sunday. In a statement, Thennarasu said Chief Minister M K Stalin has instructed the officials concerned to relax government norms and provide all assistance to the tea estate workers, who are willing to relocate to the plains.
The lease period of Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited (BBTCL) for the Manjolai tea estate ends on February 11, 2028. Hence, the private company a few months ago issued a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) notification for its 559 workers. The state government then formed a team of officials led by Cheranmahadevi Sub-Collector Arpit Jain to look into the labourers’ issues. The team met with the workers and union office bearers, and advised them to submit a complaint if the private company was forcing them to leave the job.
“Apart from 23 people, all the remaining 536 workers applied for VRS and received 25% of the ex gratia. As many as 33 workers, aged 59, received monetary benefits of Rs 4,60,985 - Rs 6,36,153 along with an ex gratia of Rs 3,63,876, while 39 workers, aged 58, received monetary benefits of Rs 4,30,969 - Rs 6,42,110 along with an ex gratia of Rs 3,33,324. Another 291 workers, aged between 50 and 57, received Rs 2,85,785 - Rs 5,83,628 along with an ex gratia of Rs 2,83,314. The remaining 171 workers received Rs 2,18,428 - Rs 4,71,490 as monetary benefits and Rs 2,12,486 as ex gratia,” the minister said.
He further added that 418 workers from 389 families had already applied for livelihood assistance. “Of them, 266 workers wished to settle in Tirunelveli district, 76 in Tenkasi, 49 in Thoothukudi, 18 in other districts, and nine in other states. The government has issued an order to help these workers. Those who want to settle in the villages will be provided with free land and a house under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam scheme,” Thennarasu said.
Workers who do not have a house in the plains can apply for a free flat in the apartments constructed under the Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihood Mission in Pappankulam of Ambasamudram taluk and Reddiarpatti of Tirunelveli corporation. Scheduled Caste workers, aged below 55, will be granted a loan under the Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme with a 35% subsidy to start a business. Workers of other communities are eligible for a loan of up to Rs 75 lakh with a 25% subsidy. These workers will be trained by the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation and the Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Mission. They will also be helped to find jobs in the private sector.
The minister added that the state government would also provide the workers with interest-free loans to purchase cows and goats to set up cattle farms. “The women workers will be given a loan of up to Rs 1.5 lakh through self-help groups. The children of the workers will be admitted to government schools and hostels in the plains. Special camps will be held to change the workers’ address on the ration card, Aadhaar and voter ID,” he further said.