Socio-Economic and Political Problems of Tea Garden Workers : A Study of Assam

Contents: Foreword. Acknowledgement. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Historical background. 3. Recruitment of labour in tea plantation. 4. Tea industry--management, role of women workers, government control and impact of tea industry on the economy of Cachar. 5. Socio-economic profile of Tea Garden women workers. 6. Political participation of tea workers, voting behaviour and its impact on the politics of Cachar. 7. Problems and prospects. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.

"The book is the result of intensive field study of the socio-economic and political problems confronting the tea plantation labourers of Assam. The Morbid situation in Cachar plantations in South Assam, where most of the workers still live a life of penury, is also highlighted here.

The immigrant labourers of Assam tea plantations, being the victims of poverty, ignorance, illiteracy and excessive exploitation by the Zamindars and agricultural landlords, left their ancestral places a century and half earlier and settled permanently in different tea estates, have since then become part and parcel of Assam. These labourers gave blood, shed tears and worked hard day in and day out to turn the barren tracts into green patches of lush tea bushes producing the black diamond. It is true that the tea estates which sprawled in the shimmering Sylvan Valleys have undoubtedly the economic profile of the State of Assam. But the socio-economic problems of these workers continued to be deplorable. The fruit of the participatory democracy is still beyond their reach. The authors have critically analysed all these aspects in detail which may be helpful to the planners and decision-making bodies at different levels." (jacket)