Internationa Tea day- Joint Call

New Delhi
31st Oct, 2007

Since the year 2005, on every 15 December tea-producing countries across the world observe International Tea Day to draw attention of governments and citizens on the impact of tea trade on workers, small growers, consumers and industry. In India this year, a joint call was made by small tea growers' representatives that assembled in Delhi on 31 October 2007 to recognise International Tea Day - a day dedicated for the livelihood rights of small tea growers of India. The participating small tea grower representatives unanimously decided

To observe International Tea Day in India on December 15 2007

To organise a National Meeting in Peermade, Kerala on December 14 and 15, 2007

Join hands to observe 15 December as the International Tea Day. We appeal for your support to make this joint call a success.

The Call

International Tea Day has been recognized by Small Tea Growers' representatives/associations across some of the tea producing countries, as an event to declare their rights pertaining to remunerative fair prices, decent livelihood and to reduce the vulnerabilities of small farmers to the international pressures of few big companies, trade policies and price control mechanism. The unprecedented and prolonged fall in prices of the primary commodity, market manipulation, and in the context of reorganization of the industry and global trade under WTO, jointly call to observe International Tea Day on 15 December to declare the livelihood rights of the small farmers in the industry.

We appeal you all to use this occasion of International Tea Day on 15 December to add momentum to your ongoing struggles for the rights of small farmers in the tea industry through possible interventions both nationally and internationally. This year we, the undersigned Small Tea Growers' representatives and associations collectively call upon the international community to

Demand mechanisms to ensure fair prices to small farmers/producers.

Demand Tea Board for the creation of a separate department for small farmers

Demand transparency in price-determination

Demand accountability of brands and retailers

Build alternative ways of production and marketing channels

Unite to seek prompt and remunerative price to small tea growers.

Protect the livelihood rights of small tea producers

Demand government and multilateral institutions to ensure mechanisms for the redistribution of the benefits of trade to the small farmers

Specifically, on December 15th we request you to

1. organise rallies, meetings of tea workers and trade unions at the national, state and unit level in your respective countries

2. Prepare posters and other campaign materials on issues pertaining to tea workers in your respective countries

3. Write to Member of Parliament (MPs) and governments asking for policies that safeguard the interests of tea workers
4. Use print and electronic media to advocate the need for the observance of International Tea Day

5. Persuade your respective governments to pressurise International Labour Organisation and United Nations to declare December 15 as International Tea Day

Signed Memebers

1. Ranjit Ganguly,
President
Uttar Banga Prantik Khudra Cha Chasi Samity,
Talma Hat,
Jalpaiguri, West Bengal

3. Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty,
Joint Secretary,
Jalpaiguri Zilla Khudra Cha Chasi Samity,
Kadamtala, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal

5. V.K. Rajagopalan,
Secretary
Srimadurai Small Tea Growers' Association,
Srimadurai, Gudalur,
Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu

7. M.A. Peter,
President Executive member,
All Kerala Small Tea Growers' Association.

9. Satyajit Bordoloi,
Chairman
Assam Small Tea Growers Development Co-operative Society Ltd.,
Sivsagar, Assam

11. Thomas Theneth,
Vice-President
All Kerala Small Tea Growers' Federation,
Wayanad, Kerala

2. Debasish Paul,
General Secretary
Uttar Dinajpur Small Tea Growers' Welfare As1sociation,
Islampur, West Bengal

4. Rajat Kumar Roy Karzee, Vice President,
Jalpaiguri Zilla Khudra Cha Chasi Samity,
Jalpaigurui, West Bengal

6. A.M. Joghee,
Executive Member
Anikorai Small Tea Growers' Association, Anikorai Village, Ooty,
Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu

8. C.R. Khanikor,
President All Assam Small Tea Growers' Association,
Dibrugarh, Assam

10. Zaban Dutta, Member All Assam Small Tea Growers' Association, Dibrugarh, Assam

12. Alex Kozhimala,
President
All Kerala Small Tea Growers' Federation, Idikki, Kerala

Express Solidarity with Tea Day by adding your name in this joint call
Add Me
or
by sending a mail to rinju@labourfile.org with your Name,Organization name and Address