Bamboo in Orissa: Trade and Livelihood Perspective - Vasundhara

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Bamboo Cutters’ Mazdoor Union and Odisha Jungle Shramika Unnayan Sangathana are
the other state-level organisations working for cutters. There is lack of coordination among
these state-level federations either because their activities are localised, or the
leaders/founders have ideological differences between themselves. Still each of them have
contributed in their own way to the struggle of bamboo cutters.
For instance, Dandapani Mohanty, now a leader of Rayat Kuli Sangha that works for the
rights of labourers including bamboo cutters in southern Orissa, claims to have taken the
initiative in 1976 to demand that bamboo cutters are entitled for bonus. Since the paper
mills were not agreeing to this, a case was filed in the Orissa High Court in 1986 to get a
legal nod to this demand; but JK mill succeeded in getting a stay order in this matter. The
stay order was vacated in late '90s, and the attempt could not be fruitful. The union leaders
approached the Labour Secretary to get some support, who in turn took certain steps in the
desired direction; but was soon transferred allegedly on that ground for the obvious reason
that it was going against the interest of paper mills(per comm.., Dandapani Mohanty).
The Tikarpada Baunshakatali Sharamika Sangathana, now affiliated to Odisha Jungle
Shramika Unnayan Sangathana, partially succeeded in its struggle when OFDC agreed to
give compensation to some deserving cutters(families), and also to reimburse the expenses
made by the cutters for purchasing rope and for getting their instruments sharpened (locally
known as tangia pajeni). It may be mentioned here that providing rope for bundling
purpose is the responsibility of OFDC/RMP and sometimes cutters had to purchase rope
when the stock got exhausted. Similarly, cutting tools like axe need to be sharpened atleast
once or twice in a week depending on their use, and the blacksmith charges for that, which
the cutters had to pay from their own pocket(per comm.., Prasanna Kumar Behera).
However, the most influential and successful labour union seems to be the JK Paper Forest
Employees Union. In 1974, JK mill started measuring the harvest in terms of volume as a
result of which the cutters got their wages 15 to 17% lower than that calculated on
weight/bundle basis. This led to an agitation in 1976 after which the system was
withdrawn. In the last arrangement, cutters working for JK were better paid than those
working for other mills. Those who were in the group since one year or less, were getting
Rs.60 to 65 per day whereas their seniors were getting Rs.70. And that too when cutters
under other RMPs were getting Rs.50 to 55 per day(per comm.., Ramachandra
Bakshipatra). It may be mentioned here that cutters usually work in groups, and equally
share their wages which is paid collectively on the basis of bundles produced by the
concerned group. This team work helps them earn more than what could have been fetched
single-handedly. Senior cutters are more skilled and hence their rate of production is more
than the new-comers; hence their earning is also more.
Currently, the Bamboo Forest Employees Union Federation is demanding cutters should be
paid minimum Rs.70/day/person, and that they should be provided with cutting
implements(like axe), shoes, uniform and most importantly, safe drinking water. Drinking
water is a major issue in the filed areas, particularly in remote hilly jungles; and the
situation worsens during summer.
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