Assam produces more than 50 percent of tea production in India but the tea plantation workers hardly get the share of their labour and lives in complete deprivation and misery. Somehow they have compromised with their extreme condition and feel that they could never come out of this situation.

Tea plantation workers of Kalain zone in the Cachar district of Assam are living in this situation for generations. They work from dawn to dusk every day, years after years. This routine has made them a slave of their own lifestyle and has forgotten about their future and the future of their children. Once the children of a tea plantation worker grow up, they naturally follow the instinct and start working in the tea plantation. So, the whole family remains within the boundaries of the tea estate. 

But over the last few years, there has been a change in the people’s perspective which might be insignificant for some. Seva Kendra Silchar (SKS) through the support of Caritas India has made a positive change in the last year among the people of tea estates. The community has started thinking, analysing and even trying to take action in the last few months through the intervention. 

The women and youth groups of Craigpark, Kurkuri, and Kalainchera have identified alcoholism and lack of quality education as the root causes of their problem. These evils have forced many youths in the family and within the community to migrate for survival outside the village. Some who have migrated have paid heavy prices wherever they landed. They experienced the cruelest treatment meted by their employers or perpetrators. Hearing the various unbearable treatment that was meted to the youths who migrated, or adults who migrated; is disheartening and inhumane to think but the tea garden community have never raised their voice as they were illiterate and the low financial status did not elevate them to a level where one could stand for their right. 

Caritas India with the support of Caritas Germany has initiated a programme in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to Combating Human Trafficking. The programme has targeted 75 village to create diverse strategic components and better collaboration with various departments and law enforcement units to liberate and restore human dignity to the victims of human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

The community pledged themselves that they will go to every target village and neighbouring villages to create awareness to the people about the evils of alcoholism and the long term negative impact it has on their families and society. The women groups are also determined that their children will not follow their footprints, but educate them to become dignified humans. The community realised that they need to stand up and vouch to end the practice of modern slavery and for which people need to be educated.  

In continuation of the decision by the community, the women groups and VVCs had organised a meeting with the students/children and invited the president of SMC of Kalaincherra LP School to share the problems and issues of their children. This seems very normal for any other community but for the Craigpark, Kurkuri and Kalainchera community, it is a big challenge and they have decided that they will try to work hard so that their future and the future of their children will be brighter and healthier tomorrow.

“Swapna Urang a member of the women group says, “we don’t have enough to run the family, sometimes we are beaten up by our husbands, most of our children are dropouts, we go out for work and are ill-treated..etc, and numerous to narrate but we realized it is alcoholism which is killing and ruining the family and the community at large. Many of our siblings try to escape from this alcoholic commotion. Therefore, we will take one step at a time but won’t give up”. And we hope this spirit remains with us from now on” she concludes.