Sonada: In a first time effort in the hills, academia-industry partnership initiative to empower tea garden women was launched, 21 February 2021.

Salesian College Sonada established in 1938 and the Tea Promoters India who own plantations in Darjeeling, Dooars, Assam and Kerala have launched a pilot project entitled: Women Empowerment in Tea Communities Workshop, to be spread out on five Sundays from 21st February to 21 March 2021.

In the first phase, ten women workers from three gardens are being trained in Health and Hygiene; Domestic Violence and Rights; Parenting Skills; Alcohol and Substance Abuse; and formation of Self Help Groups.

The newly opened Bachelor of Social Work department under its head Assistant Professor Sumina Chhetri and eight students organised the workshop.

“This women empowerment workshop is a part of our social outreach program,” said Rector of Salesian College Sonada Fr Tomy Augustine, welcoming participants and plantation management staff.

A total of 28 participants along with their management staff from far flung Seeyok, Selimbong, and Singell organic plantations formed the first batch brought together by the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of The Tea Promoters India (TPI) whole time director Mr. J.P. Gurung.

Salesian Sister Anjana Rai native of the hills currently nurse at Auxilium Dispensary Mirik took day-long sessions on Health and Hygiene related to women and girls. She stressed on Infant and Young Child feeding as well as first aid, menstruation and menstrual hygiene; and safe drinking water.

India is one of the second largest producer of tea after China and despite competition, the Darjeeling and Assam Tea are renowned all over the world.

“The tea plantation is the largest sector in the formal private sector industry, yet the wages of these workers are the lowest in this sector,” says Gurung who has recently authored two books on tea industry.

The tea workers inability to learn other skills restrict their job opportunities. And due to such limited skilling, women plantation workers are seen as “inferior in terms of social status due to their wage work and lack of control over their leisure activities.”

Recently the daily wages of in the tea plantation in the hills has been raised from Rs.170 to Rs. 207 while the wages in Assam are Rs. 217

Tea Promoters India was founded in 1980, with the intention of promoting sustainable tea cultivation through Organic, Biodynamic and Fair-trade practices.

“This holistic approach helps us produce the highest quality teas with full transparency and traceability,” says TPI director Gurung.

The group produces high quality black teas, green teas, silver tips, speciality and handmade teas from these tea gardens.