Socio Economic Development of the Tea Tribes of Assam

Abstract

The tea community in Assam forms an important segment of the greater Assamese society. They have a long association with the state when the first group of people of different communities were brought to Assam to work as labourers in the tea gardens. They account for around 20 percent of the total population of the state. The tea community consist of a number of tribes and castes. The study is a micro-study of the Tea community of Assam and is based both on primary and secondary data. The Tea community is faced by a number of problems like poor standard of living, lack of education or health facilities and prevalence of superstitious beliefs. Many are deprived of adequate housing, sanitation proper drinking water and other basic amenities. The tea garden management are bound by the Plantation Labour Act, 1951 which ensures the socio-economic development of the tea workers and their family. Many of the tea gardens in the study area have facilities for providing health, maternity leave for permanent women workers, provident fund, ration, housing and sanitation, drinking water provision , recreational facilities, creche, schools, etc., for tea workers and their families. Several schemes have been implemented by the government of Assam in collaboration with the Tea companies or different agencies like the UNICEF for bring socio-economic changes for the Tea and Ex- tea tribe people. The Directorate for Welfare of Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Tribes, Assam, since the year 1983-1984 has implemented several schemes for their socio-economic development. Similarly ABITA and SAI have also taken up schemes on different issues. In addition, other Non Government Organisations have from time to time taken up programmes to create awareness on several vital issues plaguing the community. Awareness camps on health and hygiene, family planning, cleanliness, ills of liquor consumption, child marriage, witch hunting and superstitious beliefs etc., were conducted in some of the surveyed villages.