Tea Workers' Wellbeing: A Key Indicator of Development in Assam

As Assam approaches another election cycle, debates will focus on growth, infrastructure and jobs. Yet the state’s iconic tea industry reminds us that development must also be measured by the wellbeing of those who sustain it. Daily news digest Discover more Political analysis reports politics Election coverage Assam produces nearly half of India’s tea, but discussions often centre on wages, production and exports, overlooking workers—especially women. India news updates Women form 50–60 per cent of the plantation workforce and nearly 80 per cent of pluckers, the most labour-intensive task. Despite similar statutory wages, inequalities persist through job segregation, limited upward mobility, occupational health risks, safety concerns, poor sanitation, and inadequate access to healthcare, childcare and leadership opportunities. What the data tells us about women in Assam The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21) offers an important snapshot of women’s health and social status in Assam. Some indicators show encouraging progress. 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Health SUPPORT US (function(){ var w=document.querySelector('.emm-carousel-scroll'); if(!w)return; var p=document.querySelector('.emm-carousel-prev'), n=document.querySelector('.emm-carousel-next'), s=296; function u(){ p.hidden=w.scrollLeft<=0; n.hidden=w.scrollLeft+w.clientWidth>=w.scrollWidth-1; } p.addEventListener('click',function(){w.scrollBy({left:-s,behavior:'smooth'});}); n.addEventListener('click',function(){w.scrollBy({left:s,behavior:'smooth'});}); w.addEventListener('scroll',u); u();})(); Female literacy has reached 87.5 per cent, and nearly 49 per cent of women report using the internet, suggesting improving access to education and digital connectivity. However, several challenges remain. 65.9 per cent of women aged 15–49 in Assam are anaemic, posing serious risks for women’s health, productivity and maternal outcomes. India news updates The survey also shows that 22.3 per cent of women aged 20–24 were married before the age of 18, reflecting the persistence of child marriage in parts of the state. In addition, only 50.7 per cent of mothers received at least four antenatal care visits, indicating continuing gaps in maternal health services. While such data provides insights into the broader status of women in Assam, sector-specific statistics on women working in tea plantations remain limited, often obscuring the realities of one of the state’s largest and historically marginalised workforces. Women in tea estates occupy a unique position: they are central to the industry’s productivity yet face multiple vulnerabilities. Long hours of physically demanding work in plantations are combined with unpaid household responsibilities, creating a significant double burden. Health challenges such as anaemia, alongside risks of child marriage and trafficking in economically vulnerable communities, further underline the need for integrated health, education and social protection interventions. Health What the government must prioritise First, targeted health and nutrition programmes must be strengthened in tea estates. High levels of anaemia and maternal health challenges highlight the need for improved screening, nutrition support and access to quality healthcare services. A targeted nutritional development program can be designed for adolescent girls living in the labour lines of tea estates. This initiative can be implemented in collaboration with the National Health Mission (NHM) department of Assam. The program would introduce a “nutrition basket” aimed at improving early health screening and nutritional awareness among adolescent girls who are approaching puberty. India news updates The nutrition basket may include basic diagnostic services, such as haemoglobin testing and blood pressure monitoring, to enable early identification of anaemia and other health risks that are common in this age group. Based on the diagnostic results, girls can be supported with essential supplements, particularly iron and folic acid tablets, to address nutritional deficiencies. In addition to medical support, the basket will also include Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials designed specifically for adolescent girls. These materials will provide guidance on balanced diets, essential nutrients required during puberty, and healthy food practices using locally available foods. Health By combining screening, supplementation, and awareness, the program aims to improve the nutritional status, health and menstrual hygiene awareness, and long-term wellbeing of adolescent girls within tea estate communities. Second, Girls need greater support when transitioning from middle to high school, often located outside labour lines. Many drop out due to travel challenges. Daily transport, such as vans operating through a PPP model with support from garden management and government, can help. Scholarships should also be expanded, complementing the government’s efforts to establish model schools inside tea gardens. Third, existing government welfare schemes for tea workers — including the Orunodoi Scheme, the Wage Compensation Scheme for Pregnant Women in Tea Gardens, and the Mukhya Mantrir “Eti Koli Duti Paat” Scheme — should be better streamlined and simplified. Ensuring that information about these schemes is accessible and that application processes are user-friendly will help women workers fully benefit from the support intended for them. India news updates Fourth, leadership opportunities for women in tea communities need greater attention. Although forming the backbone of the plantation workforce, their presence in worker committees, trade unions and decision-making spaces remains limited. Expanding their participation can strengthen collective voice and accountability. Platforms such as government-organised SIRISH festivals could also be reimagined beyond cultural programmes to include dedicated sessions where women from tea gardens discuss their lived realities, challenges and aspirations, helping bring their concerns more directly into public and policy conversations. Fifth, stronger mechanisms must be put in place to ensure the safety and dignity of women both in workplaces and within communities. All tea companies should ensure that Internal Committees under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act are functional and accessible, with regular awareness programmes so women workers understand their rights and reporting mechanisms. Women should also be informed about legal protections such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA) and available support systems including One Stop Crisis Centres, enabling them to seek assistance when needed. Sixth , women workers in tea gardens have limited opportunities to explore alternative livelihoods, despite the growing need for income diversification. Some pathways already exist and can be strengthened. Livestock rearing is practiced by many women within labour lines, though scaling remains a challenge. With support from the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM), micro-enterprises could be promoted within gardens and linked through an aggregation model where 6–7 producer groups combine production and coordinate processing, marketing and sales. In some gardens, women already run initiatives such as making pitha and laddoo , weaving, handicrafts, kitchen gardening, mushroom cultivation and small poultry units, which could become viable supplementary livelihoods with institutional support. India news updates Progress will require stronger collaboration between government, industry, trade unions and civil society. Many promising initiatives in tea communities have emerged through such partnerships. As Assam approaches elections, scaling these efforts can improve workers’ wellbeing and ensure development in tea gardens translates into dignity, safety, health and meaningful opportunities for women workers. Also Read: Act East sans delivery: Data shows persistent gaps in northeast spending Health Related WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Share