Mass convention in Siliguri demands protection ofland, livelihood and environment

A major convention was held in Siliguri on Sunday to address the growing threats to the environment, land rights, and livelihoods of working people in the Hills, Terai, and Dooars regions.

- MANAS R BANNERJEE

Organised by trade union leaders and concerned citizens, the event saw strong resolutions and a 10-point charter of demands to combat exploitation and environmental destruction.

The convention formed a 13-member coordinating team led by Chewang Yonzon to spearhead the movement.

Speakers emphasised the urgent need for a united and democratic struggle to protect the rights of workers, farmers, and forest-dwelling communities.

The convention put forward ten key demands to address the ongoing crisis. First, it called for a fresh and accurate land survey across the region, including all tea estates, along with updated mouza maps to resolve longstanding disputes.

Second, it demanded the proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act, ensuring land rights for tea and cinchona plantation workers under the as-is-where-is basis. This would grant legal ownership to those who have been cultivating land for generations.

Third, the convention strongly opposed the state's tea tourism and allied business policy, which allows commercial activities on lands held by tea gardens. It demanded a complete ban on non-tea businesses in these areas and insisted that no construction should take place in forest villages without Gram Sabha approval.