Fragrance of Life Blowing through the Tea Leaves

Sri Lanka is especially known for its high quality tea and the product being primary source of income for the country. It is therefore important that we take a special interest in those who are employed on the tea plantations. Over the past three years the WDC has increased their focus towards this sector and gained a thorough understanding of plantation workers living conditions and issues in the areas of Pupuressa and Hope Estate.

                The WDC established a women’s centre at Hope Estate to provide family and legal counseling services. Working closely with estate workers we were able to understand the key problems faced, for example a lack of registration of citizenship.

A survey compiled in 2010 on the Hope Estate found one hundred and seventeen individuals had no birth certificates or identity cards. In order to get the necessary papers, workers were forced to pay large amount of money.

                With t help of the Nuwara Eliya land and birth registrar, the WDC arranged a mobile service to obtain these documents for necessary individuals. The WDC forum in Hanguranketha was largely responsible for the program, which involved maximum cooperation by the Hanguranketha Divisional Secretariat office and Hope Estate government officers. In one day, sixty-four birth certificates, thirty two probable age certificates and two hundred and seventy-three request forms were completed for the issuing of birth certificates at a later date.

                This experience revealed the difficulty people living in these violated areas have in regard to obtaining these important documents, most importantly a lack of means. While this is one such example, there are further neglected areas facing similar challenges, despite the fact that the Central Province is deemed as a developed area. Illiteracy is high in these isolated populations and it is our vision to mobilize women in these areas to improve the social, health and economical conditions.

By Ms. Chandrathilaka

Community Development Coordinator

 WDC