KalimNews, February 19, 20205 : In a significant development, Anit Thapa, Chief Executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), has formally requested the West Bengal government to halt the ongoing land survey in the tea garden areas of the GTA. The call comes as tensions rise over the distribution of land pattas (land rights) to workers based on the “as is where is” principle, pending the issuance of a clear and detailed notification from the state government.
Thapa raised his concerns during a meeting with State Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak in Kolkata on Tuesday, where he handed over an official letter urging the government to ensure a transparent and equitable process for land distribution. In his letter, Thapa emphasized the need for land pattas to be distributed in tea gardens across the GTA without any restrictions on the area held by workers, based on the “as is where is” approach. He further requested the government to halt the ongoing land survey until the matter is clarified through an official notification.
Thapa’s letter to the minister reads, “I request your kind office that the notification should ensure that the land pattas are distributed in tea gardens in GTA area on ‘as is where is basis’ without reference to any limitation on area held and on a fair and transparent manner, Until a clear notification is issued regarding the above mentioned issue I would like to request you to kindly stop the ongoing land survey in the tea garden areas of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration areas”
The request comes amid growing concerns and protests in the tea belt over the government’s land survey and distribution plan. In August 2024, the West Bengal government issued a notification aimed at distributing up to 5 decimals of land to residents of tea gardens across North Bengal. However, this plan has sparked opposition, particularly in the Darjeeling hills, where many argue that workers possess more than 5 decimals of land. There is a demand for land distribution to reflect the full extent of workers’ ancestral holdings, rather than a limited area.
Initially, Thapa had supported the 5-decimal land scheme, but after widespread protests, he reversed his stance, urging the government to suspend the scheme. Following this, the state government instructed district magistrates of Darjeeling and Kalimpong to temporarily halt the land survey on September 12, 2024. However, on November 2, 2024, the state renewed its directive, instructing the district magistrates to resume the survey, once again based on the “as is where is” principle, but without specifying any limitations on the area held.
This renewed directive has fueled further opposition, with workers and local leaders demanding clarity on whether they would receive the full land they possess under the new policy. The ambiguity surrounding the land distribution process has caused continued unrest in the tea garden areas, highlighting the contentious nature of the issue for both workers and political leaders in the region.
The opposition to the notification has also centered on the use of the term “landless” to describe tea garden workers. Many critics argue that workers have held land for generations—often predating India’s independence—but have lacked the formal documentation to prove ownership. The inclusion of the Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation department in issuing the land pattas has also raised concerns. Opponents question whether this could result in tea garden workers being classified as refugees, making their land holdings non-permanent and non-inheritable.
Thapa’s latest request to halt the survey until further clarification underscores the growing tensions surrounding the land distribution scheme in the GTA. The demand for a transparent, fair approach to land rights has become a critical issue, not only for the tea garden workers but also for the political leadership in the Darjeeling hills.
The issue of land rights for tea garden workers, along with concerns over bonus payments and daily wages, has been a longstanding problem. It gained significant momentum after opposition political parties highlighted it during previous elections, with both the ruling AITMC and the BGPM being forced to include these issues in their respective manifestos. The West Bengal government’s August 2024 notification, aiming to distribute up to 5 decimals of land, has only intensified the debate, with workers and political leaders pushing for a more comprehensive solution.
Social organizations, legal groups, tea garden unions, and political parties in the hills have all weighed in on the matter, raising concerns about the legal implications of the land pattas and the potential impact on workers’ rights. The use of terms such as “Pattamuley Daag” (a reference said to be to a provisional or non-permanent ownership) has further complicated the issue, with many questioning whether the land holders will be able to inherit their land or if their rights will be secure.
As tensions continue to mount, Thapa’s call for clarity and transparency reflects the deep dissatisfaction with the current land distribution plan, emphasizing the need for a solution that ensures fair and lasting land rights for the workers in the tea garden areas of the Darjeeling hills.
