The Plight Of Assamese Tea Workers: A Review

The tea industry might bring to mind images of lush green plantations, but the reality of the lives of workers in Assam's tea estates tells a much darker story. While tea is a significant industry in the state, the people who work hard to bring it to our cups often encounter difficulties like low pay, poor living conditions, and unmet promises. Even with many laws designed to safeguard these workers, the disparity between what is written and what happens in reality is striking.

A Legacy of Exploitation

The tea industry in Assam originated in the colonial period, and sadly, many unfair practices from that era persist to this day. To overcome these difficulties, the Plantation Labour Act of 1951 was passed, which meant that the workers were to be provided with reasonable medical, decent living, housing and education facilities for the children of the workers.¹ Despite many years, we can observe that in many plantations, conditions for people remain inadmissible.