Status of the Tea Garden Women Workers of Assam : An Analysis

Abstract Assam is the largest producer of tea in India. Assam tea is significant to the state both economically and culturally. The tea industry of the state has been playing a crucial role in the Indian economy. It is a labour intensified industry and highly dependent on a large workforce. The women in the tea gardens make the largest workforce in the tea industry. Plucking of tea leaves, which is considered as a unskilled work is the main task of tea garden women. All tea garden women carry a busy day to day work along with their domestic activities, so they do not get any time for leisure or relaxation. They are playing a significant role in tea production, but unfortunately they are not getting due recognition even today and instead they are facing various social, economic, political, educational and health related problems. In this paper an attempt has been made to examine and analyse the socio-economic, political , educational and health status of tea garden women workers.