Mysuru: Although Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa has backed the claim of tribals camping in Diddalli that they were treated as bonded labourers by coffee plantations in Kodagu, the planters have denied it.
Kodagu Planters’ Association secretary, K C Sudarshan claims the workers are protected under the Plantation Labour Act and besides housing, receive minimum wages of Rs 277 a day , gratuity, PF, bonus, and medical and maternity leave.
“Labourers from Assam, Bangladesh and Orissa are brought only during the season for picking, manuring and irrigation. But these tribals are our permanent employees. Our planters are now in great trouble after they absurdly left. They are not responding to any of the notices and are now demanding sites and agricultural land in Diddalli to enhance their income from forest produce,” he said.
Tribal leader, Muththamma , however, denied the planters’ claims saying while there were 612 families at the camp, over 300 families still remained in the line houses at the plantations and continued to be treated as bonded labourers.
Vouching for her, human rights activist and executive director of SICHREM, Mathews Philip, says his organisation has been fighting for the tribals' rights for a long time. “When the government has realised they are being treated as bonded labourers, what is stopping it from freeing and rehabilitating them? And why is there no action being taken against the planters?” he demanded.
