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Home Our/Stories The Life of Rupa Tirkey: A Woman Daily Life & Struggles in Assam’s Tea Garden

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The Life of Rupa Tirkey: A Woman Daily Life & Struggles in Assam’s Tea Garden

TheAdivasisMay 17, 20254 Mins read11

Rupa Tirkey’s story is a window into the world of Assam’s tea gardens-a world filled with lush green fields, but also with hardship, deprivation, and resilience. As a tea garden worker and mother, Rupa’s daily life is shaped by the struggles and hopes shared by thousands of women like her across Assam.

Living in the Tea Garden Quarters

Rupa lives with her husband and two children in a small, crowded quarter provided by the tea estate. The house is built of tin and bamboo, with just one room for the whole family. There is no running water, and electricity is unreliable. During the monsoon, rainwater leaks through the roof, turning the floor muddy and cold. The quarters are packed close together, and the lack of proper drainage means stagnant water and mosquitoes are a constant problem, leading to frequent illnesses.

Despite the Plantation Labour Act of 1951 mandating basic amenities, enforcement is weak. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and a lack of clean water are common, contributing to a sense of deprivation and marginalization among workers. Rupa’s family, like many others, relies on a common tap for water and uses a wood fire for cooking. The small hospital in the garden often runs out of medicines, and serious health issues require expensive trips to distant town hospitals.

The Daily Grind: Work in the Tea Gardens

Rupa’s day begins before sunrise. After preparing a simple meal, she joins other women in the fields, basket strapped to her back, hands moving swiftly through the tea bushes. The work is physically demanding-long hours in the sun or rain, bending and stretching for hours, with little rest.

She is paid by the kilo, and most days, she earns about ₹167 to ₹180, far below the minimum wage prescribed by the government and less than what is needed for a decent life. Despite Assam’s global importance in tea production, wages remain low, and increases are slow to materialize. Women, who make up the majority of the workforce, are often paid even less than men and lack maternity benefits.

The workload is relentless, with forced labour and continuous pressure to meet daily targets. If Rupa fails to pick enough leaves, her wages are cut further. The physical toll is heavy, and health problems are common, yet medical facilities are inadequate.

Deprivation and the Cycle of Poverty

Rupa’s family income barely covers basic needs. After buying rice, dal, vegetables, and paying for her children’s school, little is left. The ration provided by the tea company is insufficient, forcing families to buy extra food at high market prices. Meat and fish are rare treats; most days, meals are simple and repetitive.

The poor quality and irregularity of non-cash services like housing, rations, and medical care force workers to spend their limited earnings on these essentials, deepening their dependency on the tea gardens and trapping them in a cycle of poverty. Many families, like Rupa’s, face a negative income-expenditure gap-spending more than they earn, often borrowing at high interest to cover emergencies.

Malnutrition, ill-health, lack of schooling, and even child labour are widespread in the tea garden communities. The sense of deprivation is not just material but also psychological, as workers feel marginalized and unable to break free from their circumstances.

The Struggle to Care for Family

Despite the hardships, Rupa’s greatest concern is her family’s future. Her children attend the small tea garden school, which is poorly equipped and often lacks teachers and books. Still, Rupa is determined that they get an education, hoping they can escape the life of a tea worker.

She helps them with homework in the evenings, though her own education was cut short after class five. The dream is for her son to become a teacher and her daughter a nurse, but the reality is harsh. School fees, uniforms, and books are often unaffordable, and any family emergency threatens to pull the children out of school.

Rupa’s husband also works in the garden, but work is not always regular. The burden of providing for the family, managing the home, and caring for the children falls heavily on her shoulders. In times of illness or crisis, Rupa must borrow money, plunging the family deeper into debt.

Saving for Emergencies: A Constant Challenge

Saving money is nearly impossible. After daily expenses, there is little left. Rupa tries to save by doing extra work-washing clothes for others or growing a few vegetables to sell-but any savings are quickly wiped out by illness or unexpected needs.

Most workers do not have bank accounts, and the nearest bank is far away. Wages are sometimes paid in cash, sometimes through banks, but the process is unreliable. Rupa keeps her tiny savings hidden at home, always worried that it won’t be enough in an emergency.

The lack of financial security and social safety nets leaves families vulnerable. The poor quality of services provided by the tea gardens means that workers must spend their own money on things that should be basic rights-clean water, healthcare, and education.

Hopes and Dreams Amid Hardship

Despite everything, Rupa remains hopeful. She dreams of a better house, regular meals, and a good education for her children. Sometimes, she hears of women starting small businesses-making pickles, weaving baskets, or running tea stalls-and dreams of doing the same, though she lacks the money and skills for now.

Rupa’s story is not unique. It is echoed in the lives of thousands of women across Assam’s tea gardens, who work hard every day to bring tea to the world, yet struggle to provide for their own families.

The Need for Change

Rupa Tirkey’s life highlights the urgent need for fair wages, better living conditions, and access to essential services for Assam’s tea garden workers. Stronger enforcement of labour laws, corporate accountability, and social support are crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty and deprivation that traps so many families.

Until then, Rupa and women like her will continue to work, hope, and dream-carrying the weight of their families and the tea industry on their shoulders, while longing for a better tomorrow.