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14 JANUARY 2015
The matter has been taken up with government officials
and NGOs, but for now, the estate’s extensive
afforestation measures and eco-friendly practices are
helping to combat the pollution to some extent.
The management is also in the process of getting FSSAI
(Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)
accreditation for the estate. FSSAI is an agency of the
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of
India, established under the Food Safety and Standards
Act 2006, which is a consolidating statute related to food
safety and regulation in India. The FSSAI is responsible
for protecting and promoting public health through the
regulation and supervision of food safety.
The estate has 15.77 hectares of well grown ‘fuel baries’ in
Pana and Basra divisions under Project Afforestation and
two new ones are coming up in Basra and Hatimara
divisions. Avenues of ‘Chap’ and ‘Chikrasi’ trees have also
been planted around the estate. In addition, each Division
has a Shade Nursery growing Bokain, Albizia
Odoratissima, Acacia Lenticularis, Acacia Mangium
(Black Wattle) and other species of trees. Fifty thousand
permanent and temporary shade trees have been planted
in the last two years.
Organic manure in the form of vegetable compost and
vermi-compost is used to enrich the soil. More than 100
metric tonnes of vermi-compost is being produced on the
estate every year since 2012 and all four Divisions have
vegetable compost pits.
Being surrounded by the thick forests of the Buxa Tiger
Reserve, the estate is visited regularly by elephants and
occasionally by leopards, wild boars, peacocks, rabbits and
other wild creatures.
The estate’s two Medical Officers
look after the health of workers and
staff in the 66-bed hospital, helped by 8
paramedical staff and sub-staff.
The Mothers’ Club, comprising a few leading women
workers from all four Divisions, plays an active role in
curbing social threats such as drug abuse among the
younger generation, addiction to liquor and gambling.The
members also help the Medical Team (the two Medical
Officers, Health Assistants, nurses and midwives) to create
awareness about the importance of nutrition, health care
and maintaining personal hygiene.
With the help of an NGO, the estate’s management
organized an Anti-Drug Campaign for the first time last
year, primarily targeting school children.The success of the
campaign has encouraged the management to hold a similar
drive this year in order to keep the momentum going.
Workers or their dependents with cleft lips or palate are
regularly referred to hospitals in Siliguri under the
‘Operation Smile’ project with the help of an NGO based
in North Bengal. Periodical eye camps are conducted in
the estate’s hospital under the supervision of eye surgeons
and their team from Alipurduar Government Hospital.
Regular Pulse-Polio immunization camps are organized
at the hospital and, since 2013, health check-up camps for
school children have been held, in which Calcium and
Iron tablets are given to those found with deficiencies.
The children of the workers are educated in the five LP
Schools and one Junior High School on the estate. The
management provides a school bus to transport a number
of children to and from Higher Secondary schools in the
neighbouring townships of Kalchini and Lothabari.
There are crèches for babies and toddlers in each of the
four Divisions. The children in the charge of the Crèche
Attendants are provided with milk and biscuits as well as
with toys and other essential items.
The workforce at Central
Dooars has been touched by
urban influences, such as
restaurants and motorbikes.
They are interested in music
and sports such as football.
A new temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva that was
constructed last year attracts
devotees who take part in
the daily rituals, while groups of singers belonging to the
estate’s workforce sing devotional songs once a week.
Others worship at the estate’s church or the monastery
close by.
The natural beauty in and around Central Dooars T.E. –
the meandering rivers, tree covered hills, the upper ridges
of the Bhutan hills taking on colour as the oranges start
ripening – all make one believe John Keats’ words, “The
poetry of the earth is never dead.”
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we need places where
“Nature has not been rearranged by the hand of Man.”
Enriched Soil
The Team – Seated (L to R): Dr A. K. Maharaj, D. Mehta (Manager), D. Nandi & Dr R. Chatterjee
Standing (L to R): A. Prasad, A. Roy, A. Sengupta & R. Sharma