Unjustifiable Plight: Tripura’s Rubber Farmers Face Dire Conditions, Demands for Support Intensify

The streets of Tripura recently witnessed a powerful demonstration as the Tripura Rubber Producers’ Association, an affiliate of the All India Kisan Sabha, took to the streets to highlight the dire state of the state’s rubber cultivation sector. Braving the sweltering heat, members of the association marched from Bhanu Ghosh Smriti Bhavan to Orient Chowmuhani, where a meeting was held under the presidency of MLA Shailendra Chandra Nath. The protest, which culminated in a deputation to the Chief Secretary, brought into sharp focus the severe neglect and challenges faced by Tripura rubber farmers.

The Historical Success Story and Its Unraveling

During the meeting, Pabitra Kar, the secretary of the state unit of the All India Kisan Sabha, recounted the history of rubber cultivation in Tripura. He noted that in 1978, the state had around 50,000 Jhumia families. It was the proactive and forward-thinking vision of then Chief Minister Nripen Chakraborty and Revenue Minister Biren Dutta that led to the introduction of rubber cultivation. Kar highlighted that Chakraborty personally engaged with the Kerala government and sought assistance from the Rubber Research Institute in Kottayam, establishing a robust system of government schemes and subsidies to support the nascent industry. This historical support transformed the lives of thousands and turned rubber into a significant part of Tripura’s economy.

However, Kar lamented that the current “triple engine government” has dismantled these support systems, plunging the industry into a critical state. He claimed that the government’s indifference is directly responsible for the current plight of Tripura rubber farmers. With over 80,000 rubber farmers cultivating 40,000 hectares of land, 60% of whom are from indigenous communities, the crisis is affecting a large segment of the state’s population. Kar expressed dismay at the silence of those who claim to be the saviors of indigenous people, stating that this once profitable sector is now on the verge of collapse.

The Current Crisis and Urgent Demands

The association’s memorandum to the Chief Secretary outlined a comprehensive list of 21 demands to address the crisis. The key demands for the upliftment of Tripura rubber farmers include:

• Separate Department: The establishment of a separate department for rubber cultivation to provide dedicated focus and support.
• Fair Price and Subsidies: A minimum price of ₹300 per kg for rubber to ensure the survival of farmers. The association also called for the re-implementation of a subsidy model similar to Kerala’s.
• Pensions: A demand for a monthly pension of ₹5,000 for rubber farmers aged 60 and above.
• Infrastructure: The urgent need for smokehouses and other processing facilities to improve the quality of Tripura’s rubber, aligning it with the high standards of Kerala’s RS4 and RS5 grades.
• Revival of Cooperatives: The re-activation of the 245 Rubber Producer Societies (RPS) and cooperatives that were instrumental in price determination and sales, and have since fallen into disarray.
• Governmental Support: The deputation highlighted that no new plantations have been established in the last seven years despite available land. The association also demanded the resumption of the insurance scheme for farmers, the provision of subsidized fertilizers, and the re-issuance of rubber permits.
• Free Plantation Certificates: The elimination of fees for plantation certificates, a simple but crucial measure to ease the financial burden on farmers.

Pranab Debroy, the association’s secretary, stated that the current government seems intent on ending rubber cultivation in the state. He mentioned that while they have managed to secure some subsidies from the Rubber Board for this year, farmers have not received any since 2022. He also noted that while the Rubber Board has deployed drones for spraying to combat leaf-fall disease, the effort has been insufficient.

Dialogue and Hope

Debroy also shared details of a recent positive meeting with the Joint Production Commissioner of the Rubber Board, where a five-member delegation had a constructive discussion on these issues. He mentioned that the Commissioner acknowledged the problems and assured them that necessary action would be taken. The recent deputation to the Chief Secretary, led by Pabitra Kar, reiterated these demands at the highest administrative level. Debroy described the meeting as cordial, indicating a potential for positive change. The delegation included key figures such as Pabitra Kar, Pranab Debroy, MLA Shailendra Chandra Nath, Swapan Debbarma, Makhan Shil, and Kamal Lochan Tripura.

This concerted effort by the Tripura Rubber Producers’ Association aims to draw attention to the severe economic distress and lack of government support, hoping to revive a sector that once thrived and provided a stable livelihood for a significant portion of the state’s population. The future of Tripura rubber farmers hinges on the government’s response to these critical demands.