Struggles of women behind “a cup of tea”: a study on the tea tribe women of Assam

Assam is known for its tea and tea industries. Women workers are an asset and backbone of the tea industry, from planting to plucking women are 150% more efficient than the males (Koshy and Tiwari et al, 2011) and despite their contributions women workers in the production of tea have always been relegated to the bottom strata and considered the most abundant and cheapest labour force rather than as a source of specialized labour. Women Workers still earn low wages other unorganized sectors; suffer from low levels of health care and personal well-being. Less importance and recognition is given to the women’s of tea tribe community in spite of their immense contribution towards the tea production. The objective of the study is to understand the struggles of tea community women and their contribution behind “a cup of tea”’.