The Economic Conditions of Workers in Doomni and Barchapari Tea Estates of Assam, A Comparative Study

The Assam Tea Industry, which accounts for more than 50 percent of India’s total tea production. Tea industry has contributed substantially to the economy of Assam by providing employment to nearly half a million population, contributing revenues and support to develop other infrastructure and service sector over the year. The history of tea in India began with the plantations of tea in the lowlands of Assam during the late 1930s by the British after its discovery by Robert Bruce and Maniram Dewan in the hills of Assam.The tea tribe population, being extremely diverse in terms of religious and linguistic composition, is intricately associated with tea plantation, processing and production, and bears immense significance to the socio-culture and economy of Assam. Tea tribe of Assam is one of most underdeveloped community and the women of this community are more vulnerable in comparison to man They have been facing enormous problems and difficulties (poverty, homeless and illiteracy) in their day-to-day life. Therefore, it is essential to study the economic status and the living condition of tea garden workers. The study proposes to investigate a comparative analysis of economic condition of tea garden workers in Doomni tea estate in Baska district and Barchapari tea estate in Golaghat district of Assam.