Brewing Inequality: A Sociological Investigation of the Health Challenges of Women tea Workers in Assam

Abstract

Despite being one of the largest organized industries in India, the tea plantation sector faces a significant crisis, especially in Assam. The workers, especially women, are some of the most underpaid, exacerbating their marginalization. Through an extensive review of existing literature, this study aims to explore the social disparities experienced by female tea workers, contributing to their health disparities. The article illuminates the urgent need for comprehensive policies aimed at improving their well-being. It explores why, despite assurances of adequate health care under the Tea Plantation Act of 1951, there continues to be a rise in reported diseases among female laborers in Assam's tea gardens. This investigation will not only focus on their health but will also explore various aspects of their lives to fully understand the factors impacting their overall health. The primary objective of the study is to illustrate how labor—particularly “female labor”—in the tea industry is coerced by management to produce surplus value at the expense of their sanitation, hygiene, and health.