The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, I am happy to speak today on the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure, especially about my people – the Malaiyaha, the tea estate workers.

¶ 02 They face many major problems: economic hardship; housing; roads; education; social and cultural issues; and even threats from wildlife. Among estate women, 11.4 percent suffer from anaemia; among children, 23.7 percent are undernourished. As Hon. Ambika Samivel noted, we in Opposition may complain, but again we must raise these issues because the Malaiyaha community’s history here is 202 years until 2025, and from the start to now they have lived in 8-foot “campara” line rooms given by the colonials.

¶ 03 Though governments and leaders have made some decisions over the years, even in the 21st century we are forced to discuss housing, education, and health for the Malaiyaha people. Therefore, I say in this 10th Parliament’s debate: all rulers who governed after 1948 up to now should apologize to the Malaiyaha community. Why? Those continuously representing the upcountry must answer: what concrete solutions have been delivered? Those who now shout for apologies – I ask them too.

¶ 04 Now that the NPP Government is in power, our duty is to identify the issues and deliver correct solutions: ensure proper education, home ownership, and land rights through well-crafted work plans. In the 2025 Budget, compared with 2023 and 2024, I have closely observed that the NPP Government has allocated Rs. 750 million to support smallholder tea replanting, infilling and new planting; Rs. 4,267 million for Malaiyaha housing and infrastructure; and Rs. 1,800 million for youth vocational training, food assistance, land grants, and roofing sheets; and Rs. 600 million for smart classrooms in estate schools. We are happy that, despite constraints, key allocations have been made proportionately.

¶ 05 Additionally, I wish to clarify an issue raised by Hon. Radhakrishnan regarding shifting the Norwood Divisional Secretariat office to Hatton. This was not a unilateral decision by NPP Members. It was based on the people’s request due to space constraints at the current office. At the District Coordinating Committee meeting on 31 January 2025 – attended by the Deputy Minister, five NPP MPs, and three Opposition MPs – this was discussed. The building has very limited space; on rainy days people have no place to wait. District officials, the Governor, and the District Secretary participated. Opposition MPs were not present that day. Do not exploit this to incite communalism among estate people for votes.

¶ 06 Thank you.