IR

CHAPTER XX.

and we recommend that they should now take steps in this direction. But
the matter should not be left to their initiative. It is the duty of
Government to secure that those on whom the legislature seeks to confer
a benefit should be placed in a position to secure that benefit ; and
we recommend that all officers on whom any responsibility for conditions
in plantations rests should be required to take active steps to acquaint
the workers with their rights under the law.
Access to Workers’ Houses.
This in itself will not be sufficient to secure that liberty which
we regard as essential, and it is important for more than one reason
that there should be a right of public access to the lines which the
workers inhabit. The question of rights of way through tea gardens
has been the subject of considerable discussion in recent years, and a
{olution on it was recently adopted by the Assam Legislative Council.

e are aware that at present access, by day at least, is rarely denied ;
but we do not regard as satisfactory the existing position where the
workers are largely isolated from outside influence and any member
of the public may be effectively prevented from approaching the workers’
lines except with the manager’s permission. On principle it is objec-
fionable that considerable areas included within the garden grants, in
which large numbers of workers are settled, can be entirely closed to any
one who may be interested in their welfare. We have considered the
point submitted to us, namely, the danger of interested people attempting
to make use of the illiterate and ignorant labour force on the tea gardens
for purposes unconnected with labour, but this is a risk to which every
industry in India is exposed, and we think it better to face it than to
continue a policy which inevitably gives rise to suspicion and is liable
to be abused. We were informed that in the Surma Valley there are
recognised public rights of way to all garden lines, and in the Dooars,
where the labour force is similar in composition to that of Assam, the
garden lease usually requires the planter to maintain roads from North
to South and from East to West which shall be open to the public. It is
in the Assam Valley that the right of access is most needed, and we re-
commend. that steps should be taken to secure public contact with workers’
dwellings on all plantations.
Publicity in Recruiting Districts.

In connection with the question of contact between plantations
and the outside world, we desire to draw attention to the general ignorance
regarding Assam and the absurd ideas prevalent regarding the life
of the worker on tea plantations. Act VI of 1901 had the practical
effect of making all form of propaganda illegal, and with its repeal a
systematic campaign should be organised by the industry to dispel
the fog of ignorance which still prevails and to make known the advan-
tages which the plantations have to offer to the inhabitants of other
provinces. Leaflets in English and in the different vernaculars of the
recruiting areas describing the climate of the province, the wages paid
on the gardens. the nature of the work. the various concessions granted