[Answered] System set up in colonial times to establish tea plantations has remained surprisingly intact throughout India’s post-Independence development. Elaborate and also highlight the challenges faced by tea industry of India.

Tea is a plantation crop, mostly grown in foothills of Eastern Himalayas and hilly slopes of Nilgiri. India is not only second largest exporter of Tea but also has a significant role in domestic market.

India Tea industry from colonial to present times:

  • The birth of Indian tea industry was marked by the discovery of indigenous tea plants in Assam in the early 19th century
  • During second half of 19th century Indian Tea association was set up.
  • Later Indian Tea act 1933 with further amendments, Plantation Labour Act 1955 has been passed.

Archaic laws-Plantation Labour Act 1955

  • Predicated on a low-paid, stringently managed manual labour, health and education are firmly controlled by their employers continue to be in force.
  • With passing times Tea industry management is unable to meet the growing expenditure to raise in labour costs and workers continue to keep demanding better wages and living conditions.
  • Archaic laws have resulted in continuous violation of workers right to association
  • It doesn’t address the fluctuating Tea prices
  • There is demand for exemption of tea from export cess and import subsidy to tea plantation machinery

Challenges to Indian Tea industry:

Management concerns:

  • Labour issues: Being labour-intensive, there are repeated demands for better pay and working conditions.
  • 50% of the workforce comprising women there is need to pay heed to women health issues.
  • Only 1% of plantation is organized plantation
  • Quality concerns: Deteriorating quality due to increased use of pesticides

Market:

  • Fluctuation in demand: Eg: Britain, once India’s biggest tea buyer, has acquired a taste for  African tea.

Governance:

 

  • Structural constraints in management by tea board

 

  • Lack of proper pricing regime

Way forward:

  • Humanitarian aid is needed for malnourished workers on failed estates.
  • Companies must be held accountable for the non-implementation of the Plantations Labour Act
  • Single act replacing multiple central and state level acts governing the plantation industry
  • Tea Development & Promotion Scheme” through the Tea Board as in 12 FYP
  • Amending the Plantations Labour Act to extend the benefits available to other facilities to planations, to check price fluctuation.

A closer look is required if the Indian Tea industry is to be revived so that it regains its pre-eminent position. Worker-owned company model where workers have a stake in the progress of the industry is needed. Companies would need to take more innovative ways so as to make the industry profitable.