PRESENT PROBLEMS OF THE TEA GARDENS IN THE WESTERN DOOARS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE TEA GARDEN WORKERS

Abstract

Tea gardens of Dooars have long history of development. They began to flourish from the late 19th century. The English traders found this part very ideal for tea plantation. They brought people of different communities to work in the gardens from the hills and from several parts of Bihar, Chhotanagpur area and southern parts of West Bengal. Thus the tea gardens observe people of mixed community. Their life pattern, including culture, livelihood and the work environment changed remarkably over the last one and a half decade. Several acute problems are also coming up day by day. This paper is a systematic discussion of the present scenario of livelihood pattern of the tea garden workers of the Western Dooars and problems they are facing in all walks of life. This study was conducted during 2010-2014 upon three tea gardens, namely Ranicherra, Washabarie and Leesh River Tea Gardens.